Principal Planning Officer

Principal Planning Officer

Location: Greater London
Contract: Temporary / Agency Assignment
Duration: 27 July 2026 – 22 January 2027
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
Pay Rate: Up to £50 per hour Umbrella (£38 PAYE) - depending on experience


We are currently recruiting on behalf of a Local Authority in Greater London for an experienced Principal Planning Officer to join its Development Management Planning service on a temporary basis.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional to work within a busy local authority planning environment, supporting strategic development and area planning functions across the borough.

The successful candidate will manage a varied and complex caseload, including major and non-major planning applications, while providing expert planning advice to applicants, stakeholders, colleagues and elected Members.

As a Principal Planning Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Managing your own caseload of planning applications, including complex and major applications.
• Leading schemes through the pre-application, application and post-determination stages.
• Assessing and evaluating planning applications in accordance with relevant legislation, national planning policy and local planning policies.
• Preparing high-quality planning reports, recommendations and supporting documentation for delegated and Planning Committee decisions.
• Making recommendations and taking delegated decisions where appropriate.
• Providing professional planning advice to applicants, agents, colleagues, stakeholders and Members.
• Leading on planning appeals, including preparing representations and representing the Council at hearings and public inquiries where required.
• Providing pre-application advice and guidance on planning legislation, policy and regulatory requirements.
• Undertaking site visits, consultations, negotiations and liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
• Working collaboratively with developers, agents, consultants, public bodies and other partners to support high-quality development and regeneration.
• Presenting applications at Planning Committee and other public meetings as required.
• Supporting the delivery of the Council's regeneration priorities and strategic development objectives.
• Providing guidance, mentoring and professional support to less experienced planning officers.
• Contributing to service improvement, policy development, procedural reviews and the ongoing development of the Planning Service.

We are looking for an experienced planning professional with strong Development Management experience and the confidence to manage complex applications with a high degree of autonomy.

You should have:

• Significant post-qualification experience in Development Management Planning.
• Experience managing a varied caseload, including complex and/or major planning applications.
• Strong knowledge of the Town and Country Planning system, relevant legislation and the National Planning Policy Framework.
• Experience preparing high-quality planning reports and robust recommendations.
• Experience dealing with planning appeals, including written representations, hearings and/or public inquiries.
• Strong understanding of local planning policy and the ability to interpret and apply policy, legislation and case law.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to work independently, prioritise competing deadlines and deliver against targets.
• A solution-focused approach to complex planning issues.
• Experience providing professional advice and supporting or mentoring junior members of staff.

Membership, or eligibility for membership, of an appropriate professional planning body is desirable, with relevant professional experience essential.

Why Apply? This is a fantastic opportunity to join a Greater London Local Authority during a period of strategic development and regeneration, working on a diverse and challenging portfolio of planning matters.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Work on a varied caseload of complex planning applications.
• Contribute to significant development and regeneration projects.
• Work alongside experienced planning and development professionals.
• Provide strategic planning advice and influence key development outcomes.
• Support the delivery of high-quality development across the borough.

If interested, please contact Josh on 01772 208967 or joshua.hull@servicecare.org.uk