Planning Policy Officer

Vacancy reference

ECR000651

Salary

Grade 7, £32,578 to 34,811 per per annum

Hours

37 hours a week

Contract

Permanent

Location

Castle House,Newcastle-under-Lyme

About the job

Are you passionate about planning and creating thriving, sustainable communities? Do you want to play a key role in shaping the future growth and development of a vibrant borough? Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Planning Policy Officer to join our Planning Policy Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the preparation and delivery of planning policy that will guide development, support economic growth, protect our environment, and help create high-quality places for residents and businesses. This is an exciting time to join the Council, having recently adopted its Local Plan.

As a Planning Policy Officer you will:

• support the development and implementation of planning policy across the borough
• be working as part of a small, friendly and experienced team
• contribute to the preparation of the local plan and other planning policy documents, undertake research and evidence gathering, analyse data, engage with stakeholders and communities, and help ensure that national and local planning priorities are effectively translated into planning policy
• have good time management and communication skills, be able to prioritise potentially conflicting tasks, sustain attention to detail and work to deadlines

Your work will directly influence how and where future development takes place, helping to deliver sustainable growth and positive outcomes for local communities.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation, monitoring and review of planning policy documents, including the local plan.
• Undertake research, data analysis and evidence gathering to support planning policy development.
• Monitor housing, employment and other planning-related data and prepare reports.
• Respond to consultations and represent the Council at stakeholder meetings and public engagement events.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes, committee reports and consultation materials.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, elected Members, developers, statutory consultees and local communities.
• Contribute to the delivery of corporate priorities through effective planning policy and place-making initiatives.

Why work for us?

Newcastle-under-Lyme is a borough with big ambitions. We’ve already started our transformation, however, we still need to find better ways of doing things because we are determined to do the very best we can for our communities.

If our vision is to be the best, then we need the best people working for us. Our people are at the heart of what we do and have the freedom to innovate, grow and develop. We recruit people who share our vision and values; people who have the drive to deliver our ambitious council plan.

Our historic borough is a place of marked contrasts. We are the home of a world class University at Keele, a leading light known internationally for its research and sustainability record, which stands side by side with former mining communities including some which register amongst the most deprived areas in the country. Our borough is also a mixture of urban centres, affected by some of the same social issues facing our neighbouring city, Stoke-on-Trent, but also outstanding rural landscapes in our less populated villages. Our plans and priorities aim to address the needs of all our communities.

Our People offer

We reward our people with a competitive range of benefits including:

• access to the local government pension scheme
• minimum 24days annual leave plus5 extra days after 5 years' service
• flexible working options and family friendly policies
• local and national high street discounts
• free car parking
• wellbeing support including £12.50 per month Jubilee2 membership
• green travel scheme including cycle to work and electric car salary sacrifice
• free employee 24 hour employee assistance and counselling services, flu vaccination service and health checks
• development and training opportunities

Contact

Should you wish to have an informal discussion in relation to this opportunity contact:

• Allan Clarke (Interim Head of Service, Planning Policy), 01782 742477, allan.clarke@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk
• Rachel Killeen (Interim Head of Service, Development Management), rachel.killeen@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk

Closing date

5pm on Sunday8November 2026

Should we receive a large number of applications, then this post could close sooner than the date stated.

Shortlistedapplicants will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date.

Interview date

Thursday19November 2026

While we value diverse backgrounds and experiences, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship. Applicants must be able to prove they have the Right to Work in the U.K.

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