Senior Planning Officer in London

Your new company Hays are pleased to have partnered with the London Borough of Ealing to recruit a Career Grade Senior Planning Officer to join the team. The London Borough of Ealing celebrated ranking Platinum by the Planning Magazine for the decision‑making service, putting them in the top 12 Authorities across the country in 2024. The council's platinum rating means it performed on average between 33‑35% above the quality threshold, meaning it was rated as the top London borough and placing it amongst the top performers in the country.

The Planning team is a very stable department with the entire service being permanently employed by the Council, meaning the team acts well together to deliver a quality level of service to applicants. Here at Ealing, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. Join a team renowned for high performance and innovative practices and contribute to a vibrant borough rich in culture and opportunity. This is an exciting time to join the council, with our Local Plan at Regulation 19 stage, and you will play a key role in ensuring its successful delivery. Ealing has also set some ambitious housing targets over the years, committing to delivering 4,000 genuinely affordable homes between 2024 and 2026, while our housing and homelessness strategy aims to deliver 28,000 homes over the next 15 years. A high‑functioning, delivery focused planning department is central to delivering on these commitments.

Your new role We are currently recruiting for a Career Grade Planning Officer to join the Development Management team, working on a mixed case load of projects including minors and some major strategic projects. You will be tasked with managing a diverse caseload of planning applications for complex householders, single dwellings, and some small commercial schemes. You will also assess planning merits, interpret development plans, and prepare clear, well‑written reports recommending approval or refusal, provide expert planning advice, handle planning applications, and contribute to planning policy and transport strategies. You will help shape the London Borough of Ealing's future through innovative and community‑focused planning, advising stakeholders on proposals and processes, handle appeals, draft high‑standard decision notices, and provide expert guidance. Ideally, you will continue to be part of a team that values growth, collaboration, and excellence to deliver high‑quality, client‑focused outcomes for stakeholders.

What you’ll need to succeed You will be qualified with a degree accredited by the RTPI or RICS in Town and Country Planning or equivalent. You will need to have experience in Development Management, including assessing planning applications across both residential and commercial areas. You must be confident writing appeal statements and providing practical advice on development proposals, being able to explain complex planning issues to a range of stakeholders. You will need to demonstrate a passion for creating sustainable and vibrant spaces that benefit the wider community.

What you’ll get in return The service offers flexible hybrid working with one core day in the office and flexible working around that. The salary banding has recently been benchmarked and now ranges from £40,000 to £45,000 plus public sector pension and holiday days. The Principals and Team Leaders in the service were all promoted internally, so career progression is high on the agenda within the Borough, and they pride themselves on developing staff.