Ashford lies in the heart of the Garden of England and yet is embracing growth with its ambitious plans for the future. This means it has more than its fair share of large-scale proposals to deal with.

Ashford’s Planning and Development Service has a long and proud record of driving high quality place making. This is strongly supported by elected members and acknowledged as an essential component in the delivery of successful development and growth. 

Our Strategic Applications team deal with a range of high profile schemes from large greenfield residential and mixed use proposals to town centre regeneration schemes which draw on the full range of planning and design skills. The team also plays the leading role in the planning and delivery of the South of Ashford Garden Community – an urban extension of over 7,000 new dwellings alongside a new strategic park, new schools and health facilities.

We are now looking to fill a range of posts in the team to cover the increasing scope of major projects that are being attracted to the borough.

This Deputy Team Leader in the Strategic Applications team will support the Team Leader in their role and be acting as case officer for a range of major applications.

We want a candidate who is confident in dealing with complex or challenging schemes and can show how they add value to a proposal by using their design and place-making skills in different contexts.  This is a career-graded post. The post holder will be required to demonstrate additional skills gained through training and experience and be expected to take on work of a greater complexity and responsibility to achieve progression to the higher grade of MG7.

The post holder would also be expected to assist more junior officers in the team in the handling of their workload and provide a high quality, customer-focused service, by liaising with Councillors, applicants and other stakeholders in managing their cases.

You should hold a planning degree or a degree in a related discipline plus post-graduate planning qualification and be, or be eligible to be, a member of the RTPI.

As part of our competitive remuneration package, we offer a pension scheme, generous annual leave, relocation package, flexible working, flexitime and opportunities for training and development.

For an informal discussion please contact Simon Cole, Spatial Planning Manager & Acting Strategic Development & Delivery Manager, on 01233 330642 or simon.cole@ashford.gov.uk

For more information about Ashford Borough Council please visit our website

Closing date: 22.11.2020

Ashford Borough Council recognises the need to ensure the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when they come into contact with the services we