Principal Planning Officer (Policy)

About the Team

Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council is seeking to recruit a Principal Planning Officer within the Planning Policy Team on a fixed term contract (twenty‑four months). It is a key post within the Planning Policy Team. B&NES is situated in a diverse area with heritage and environmental assets, an extensive Green Belt, and is part of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA). The Council is preparing a Spatial Development Strategy and a new‑style Local Plan, and the Principal Officer will coordinate B&NES input into the SDS.

About the Role

To ensure that development proposals comply with legislation, regulations, national and local planning and Council policies. The role holder, as a technical leader, will provide specialist advice and information to the Council on all matters related to Plan Making and the production of a sound Development Plan. The role may also involve managing a small team, deputising for team managers, and providing supervision to junior colleagues.

Accountabilities

• Appraise and make recommendations on complex, contentious, and controversial planning applications and cases against the Local Plan, regulations, and legislative frameworks.
• Provide written statements and proofs of evidence, and represent the Council at examinations in public and associated hearings as an expert witness.
• Respond to complex enquiries from the public, Members, applicants, and other stakeholders; attend public meetings as appropriate.
• Provide specialist planning advice and guidance to enable customers to submit development applications aligned with the Development Plan requirements.
• Represent the Council in appeals, hearings, and inquiries, defending Council decisions and providing written statements and proofs of evidence at hearings.
• Present applications to the Planning Committee and, when necessary, act as lead officer to enable effective decision‑making and sign‑off applications in accordance with delegated authority.
• Negotiate and project‑manage major or complex planning and development proposals, engaging with partners to ensure the Development Plan objectives are achieved using Section 106 agreements and planning conditions.
• Conduct initial enquiries into alleged breaches of planning control and assist planning enforcement to ensure compliance with Council decisions and policies.
• Provide guidance, advice, and support to Planning Officers to ensure an effective Council planning service is delivered to the required standard.
• Contribute to the preparation of Article 4 Directions and Local Development Orders, feeding back on what works and what does not to improve planning policies.
• Provide expert professional advice and formulate planning policy on complex and significant issues; coordinate the preparation, progression, and review of statutory development plan and related policy documents.
• Direct and conduct public consultations in line with Council policies, ensuring all parties affected by potential development can provide comment and appropriate input.

About You

• Degree in Planning or a related subject, or equivalent experience.
• Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent.
• Substantial experience managing complex planning and development management cases.
• Substantial experience acting as an expert witness and senior planning expert in controversial cases or complex issues at Development Plan Examinations.
• Experience presenting complex and contentious planning applications to the Planning Committee.
• Thorough knowledge of planning policy activity, enforcement policies and processes.
• Thorough knowledge of the Development Plan for Bath and North East Somerset.
• Thorough knowledge of planning legislation such as the Town and Country Planning Act and governmental planning framework.
• Ability to translate complex information, provide professional advice and guidance, and present information to a range of stakeholders in a clear manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with applicants, objectors, interested parties, and consultees, negotiating to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to manage a case load of complex planning applications and appeals.

Interview Date

Interview date: 10/08/2026

Contact

If you are interested in this post and require more details or just to chat through the role and what’s involved, please contact Richard Daone, Deputy Head of Planning (Policy). Email: richard_daone@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225477546. All applications must be made via the online system.

EEO Statement

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. We are a Disability Confident Employer. The Council is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce; applications for job‑share, part‑time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

Safeguarding Statement

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will be expected to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with or without barred list checks.