Principal Planning Officer - Strategic Applications Team and Gilston Area Team in Watford

Are you an ambitious planning professional looking for a fresh challenge and the chance to grow your skills? If so, we’re looking for four dynamic, highly talented and motivated Development Management Principal Planning Officers to join the Gilston Area Team (x1) and the Strategic Applications Team (x3). We’re offering the opportunity to lead on major and complex planning applications, including one of the largest in the country, delivering a new community of 10,000 homes. You’ll also develop your confidence in mentoring and supporting junior officers within a busy, collaborative team. If you’re someone who enjoys meaningful work and wants to help shape the future of East Herts, this could be the perfect next step.

These roles provide great opportunities for enthusiastic planning professionals looking to widen their experience through complex major and strategic development proposals across a range of urban, suburban and rural settings situated in a rich, diverse and historic environment.

What You Will Be Doing

The Council’s Growth Strategy focuses on sustainable urban extensions and redevelopment of brownfield land and sustainable locations within the key settlements including those in Hertford, Bishop’s Stortford, Ware and extensions to Welwyn Garden Suburb and Stevenage, in addition to the Gilston Area. The Council is in the process of preparing an ambitious new District Plan to deliver growth over the new Plan Period.

Either Principal Planning officer role will involve you exercising delegated powers to determine applications across the Development Management Team and to take a project managed approach to assessing planning applications including as part of Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs), whilst leading and mentoring junior colleagues. You will oversee all stages of the process from initial assessment, through to committee reporting, legal agreements, conditions and appeals. You will keep up to date with case law, national and local policies and community needs to ensure that the planning process can deliver the best outputs and outcomes.

• Present casework to decision-making committees and in other public meetings such as Community Forums, Development Management Forums and Steering Groups.
• Respond promptly to customers’ needs.
• Provide guidance, training and support to other team members.

The roles will require you to visit and inspect land and development sites and other locations both within and beyond the district.

In the Gilston Area Team

The Gilston Area Team are looking for a capable and experienced planner to manage a complex and varied workload and to work closely with delivery partners to ensure the detailed planning stage delivers upon the commitments secured at the outline application stage. Granted planning permission in January 2025, the Gilston Area will deliver seven new villages containing new homes, community infrastructure, commercial and retail development plus complex infrastructure projects. Master planning the first villages is ongoing alongside detailed applications marking the first step towards delivery.

You will manage the complex suite of applications required to take the outline permissions through the detailed master planning and reserved matters stages towards the delivery of the Gilston Area development. You will manage a caseload of complex planning and related applications, including pre-application submissions. You will also exercise delegated powers to determine applications and to take a project managed approach to teams, leading and mentoring junior colleagues. Providing a service that is efficient and effective, you will oversee all stages of the process from initial assessment, through to committee reporting, legal agreements, conditions and appeals.

In the Strategic Applications Team

You will manage complex major and strategic developments across East Hertfordshire including sustainable urban extensions to the 5 main towns in the District, and other sustainable locations. You will play a key role in supporting the delivery of significant housing, community, commercial and employment development sites in the district, including allocated sites, helping us achieve sustainable development of the highest standards of design, where active and sustainable travel is the priority, to protect our unique array of heritage assets and conserve the beautiful natural environment that surrounds us while enabling the creation of new habitats and opportunities for nature recovery, recreation, health and wellbeing.

So, if you want to join us at the head of the curve and become an innovator, designer and environmentalist helping to plan a prosperous future for East Hertfordshire, then apply today!

About You

• Experience dealing with major development proposals.
• Experience and understanding of the planning legal obligation process.
• Project management experience.
• Experience dealing with planning issues and communicating these at committees and public meetings.
• Experience guiding, mentoring and supporting junior colleagues.
• A degree in Town and Country Planning and/or post graduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (or equivalent).
• A current, valid driving licence, access to your own vehicle and the ability to travel across the district, occasionally at short notice.

What can we offer you?

• Opportunities for growth and cross-department working, learning new skills and service area.
• 26-29 days annual leave rising to 34 days with 5 years' local government service.
• Usage of our e-fleet during business hours for business-related visits.
• Employee well-being programme.
• Employee events group.
• Regular opportunities to socialise with other teams within the council.
• Flexible working arrangements, including flexi-time.
• Up to 50% working from home for eligible posts.
• Free parking in our offices and select council owned car parks during business hours.
• Access to wellbeing and occupational health schemes such as the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Local Government pension scheme.
• Discounts at council-owned leisure centres.
• Opportunity to network with colleagues across councils in Hertfordshire and the East Of England.
• Professional environment where your career path really matters and your development is supported by the organisation.

How To Apply

For an informal discussion regarding the Gilston Area role OR the Strategic Applications Team roles, please contact Martin Plummer, Service Manager Development Management and Enforcement or Jenny Pierce, Gilston Area Team Leader or Neil Button, Interim Strategic Sites Team Leader.

We as a council are ambitious. To find out more about our ambitions and what it’s like working at East Herts, hear from our employees on our careers site. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing diversity and maintaining a firm commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We believe that creating inclusive environments leads to stronger collaboration and better outcomes in our work.

Find out more about our disability confident scheme.