Principal Planning Officer (Policy)

 £39,880 - £42,821 a year plus £3203 car benefit allowance

Permanent

Full time

About the job

Luton has an inspiring agenda including delivering the Luton 2040 vision for no one living in poverty and addressing climate change.  We are also working closely with our neighbours to deliver Luton’s unmet housing need, identified in emerging in neighbouring local plans, including at sites to the east of Luton, North of Luton and beyond. This is a powerful agenda for the growth of the Luton conurbation.  Along with its airport, football club and town centre, the town has a growing vibrant mix of communities.

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Planning Policy team where you’ll provide a professional lead on planning policy, including the Luton Local Plan, neighbouring Local Plans, Supplementary Planning Documents, design documents and supporting evidence base.

Working closely with teams across the council to develop what are often innovative approaches, to complex urban challenges, including the delivery of affordable housing, addressing concerns with hot food takeaways, houses in multiple occupation, regeneration of the town centre, achieving high quality design and planning obligations.

A key part of this role is to take responsibility for project managing and delivering specific work streams on time and within budget. You’ll work collaboratively with teams across the council to deliver corporate priorities. You’ll work strategically with a range of external organisations, including responding to consultation documents from MHCLG, nieghbouring authorities and other organisations. You’ll also engage and consult with residents, businesses and the wider community in Luton.

The role includes supervision of more junior staff and encouraging them in their professional development.

About you

To be successful in this role you must have in-depth knowledge of the principles and practice of town and country planning and local authority planning responsibilities.  It is vital that you have a Degree, Masters, Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship or Diploma in Town and Country Planning or equivalent qualification or equivalent experience. You will also be a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent.

It goes without saying that you’ll be able to write and present reports and policy documents dealing with complex planning issues in a way which makes then clear and easy to understand, explaining and answering questions at meetings.  You’ll need to be confident at presenting and persuasive to get people on board with the council’s objectives.

Applicants with expertise in GIS, monitoring, urban design, listed building and conservation, transport planning or airport planning are particularly welcome as we are looking to enhance these areas of the team.

Interview date:  Friday 6th August 2021

Closing Date:  Sunday 25^th July 2021 at midnight

Vacancy ID: LBC02259

Cost code : PP1000/0110

PO number: POHR006165

Please Apply Online at www.luton.gov.uk/jobs

Or call the HR Services Team on 01582 54 6621 for any queries.