MHCLG begins search for new chief planner

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched its search for a new chief planner, saying it is seeking a candidate to “transform the housing market” and deliver the government’s 300,000 net additional homes a year target.

In January, the government’s existing chief planner, Steve Quartermain, gave notice of his intention to retire from the post. Quartermain has been chief planner for more than eleven years.

Now, the ministry has begun the recruitment process for a new chief planner.

According to the job advertisement, a key task for the successful candidate will be “to transform the housing market to deliver 300,000 net additional homes a year on average by the mid-2020s”.

It adds that the successful candidate will be at least a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent “and have senior planning experience across the range of planning work.”

The post is offering a salary of £110,000, under the department’s Pay Band 2 which has a salary range of £92,000 to £162,500. Planning asked MHCLG for details on the current chief planner’s pay band but it had yet to respond at time of publication.

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