Principal Planner – Basildon County Council

Basildon Borough Council is embarking on an ambitious transformation journey, driven by our Corporate Plan and the belief that every resident deserves to live in a safe, thriving, and high-quality environment. Our focus remains firmly on strengthening communities, creating opportunities, and delivering high-quality public services.

Basildon Council is currently preparing for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), which will change how councils operate across the area in the coming years. While this transition is underway, the Council continues to deliver essential services and remains committed to recruiting talented people who can help shape the future of local government.

We are seeking an exceptional Principal Planner to join our Planning Service and play a leading role in shaping the future of Basildon Borough. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced planning professional to manage a varied portfolio of major and strategic developments, provide expert planning advice, and help deliver sustainable growth across the Borough. Working within a dynamic and ambitious team, you will take the lead on complex planning applications, negotiations, appeals, planning obligations and infrastructure delivery, while supporting the Council's wider regeneration and growth agenda.

As a senior member of the service, you will work closely with developers, landowners, elected Members, local communities and key stakeholders to secure high-quality development and positive outcomes for residents and businesses. You will also support and mentor planning officers, helping to drive service excellence and continuous improvement across the team. This role offers the opportunity to work on some of the Borough's most significant development projects and make a lasting impact on the places and communities we serve.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated planning professional with a strong track record in managing complex planning appeals and major development proposals. You will have substantial experience gained within a local planning authority, planning consultancy, government agency or similar environment, together with a detailed understanding of planning legislation, policy and procedure. You will be confident in preparing robust appeal statements, proofs of evidence and committee reports, and have experience representing organisations at hearings, public inquiries, committee meetings and other public forums.

The successful candidate will have:

• A degree in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• Membership of, or eligibility for membership of, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or equivalent professional body.
• Extensive experience in Development Management and planning appeals.
• A proven ability to manage major and strategic planning applications and associated appeal work.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience working with developers, landowners, consultees and legal representatives.
• Excellent report-writing, analytical and presentation skills.
• A sound understanding of planning policy, planning obligations, infrastructure delivery and development viability.
• Experience preparing appeal statements, proofs of evidence and appearing at hearings and public inquiries.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and meet challenging deadlines.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to support and develop colleagues across the Planning Service.

This role would suit an experienced planner who thrives on managing complex and high-profile cases and is looking for an opportunity to play a key role in defending and promoting the Council's planning decisions through the appeal process.

Basildon Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults, and expects all employees, contractors and volunteers to share its commitment, while implementing a range of policies to prevent abuse, harm or exploitation across all departments.

We are proud to be a disability confident employer. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment, encouraging applications from disabled people and we will guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. We value the diversity of our community and aim to have a workforce that reflects this. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, cultures and identities, and are particularly keen to hear from underrepresented groups.

All offers of employment are subject to pre-employment checks and clearance.