Head of Development Management and Strategic Planning

Head of Development Management and Strategic Planning

Closing date: 17 February 2025 – 11:59 pm

Salary: £75,144 – £89,730 (£94,092 achievable through performance related progression in line with the annual appraisal process)

Client: London Borough of Sutton

London Borough of Sutton is recruiting for a Head of Development Management and Strategic Planning.

We are seeking a collaborative, proactive leader to deliver Sutton’s corporate objectives whilst securing the highest quality planning decisions. You’ll build highly-regarded and productive relationships with elected members, senior officers, staff, developers and residents. You’ll be experienced at working in a local authority context and confident in providing sound and impartial advice to elected members and senior officers.

The London Borough of Sutton is home to the London Cancer Hub, Europe’s leading cancer research and treatment district. Sutton is a well connected, attractive borough in South West London that has a reputation for excellent schools, Green Flag award-winning green and leafy open spaces, and an industrial heritage along the River Wandle. Our Local Plan concentrates new housing in our town and district centres, and seeks to preserve the heritage assets and village feel of parts of the borough. The Council is leading regeneration in Sutton town centre, including a new Civic Hub, new site for Sutton College and new council housing. Sutton’s priority is high quality, well-designed development that meets the highest sustainability credentials and secures affordable housing. Infrastructure provision is of high priority to our residents.

Brief introduction to the role from Jennifer Sibley, Assistant Director of Environment & Planning:

Our planning service performs strongly against government targets for application decision-making, regularly deciding 90% of all reported applications within statutory targets, an appeal success rate which is 84% dismissed and is the fourth-best performing Council in the country in not using Extensions of Time (14% of all reported applications). We have a fully staffed and qualified building control team.

Our Local Plan is being updated and will help position Sutton as a key player in attracting inward investment, jobs for our residents and STEM opportunities for our young people in the longer term. We want to be a major player in the Mayor of London’s and Government’s growth agenda. Planning will be key in shaping the Council’s arguments for more investment in Sutton, especially in public transport improvements. We know our residents care about infrastructure alongside development, and our use of s106 and Community Infrastructure Levy from major developments will help ensure they feel and see the benefits too.

Our new Local Plan will continue to concentrate new housing in our town and district centres and by diversifying planning uses we will boost footfall and vitality, alongside protecting the distinctive character and heritage of the borough. Within Sutton town centre, works will start this year on around 1,000 new homes on the former B&Q site in Sutton town centre, including 217 social rent council properties.

Responsibilities:

• To continue to drive a culture of high quality development management to facilitate the ambitions of Sutton’s major regeneration and investment programmes, supporting jobs, wellbeing, sustainability and housing for residents.
• To lead the development of planning policy, related strategies and masterplans which will enable quality, low carbon development including of the London Cancer Hub, housing estate and town centre regeneration and the enhancement of Sutton’s extensive network of parks, waterways and green spaces through biodiversity uplift.
• Provide strategic management of the council’s statutory planning function as the Chief Planning Officer and oversee the provision of effective services to manage planning applications to their completion.
• Work closely with and provide advice to the Council’s senior leadership team, lead elected members and Planning Committee.
• To work strategically with partners such as the GLA and other South London Boroughs to articulate the needs of South London and ensure the London Plan reflects investment priorities and needs.
• Using leadership skills, creativity and judgement, continually modernise and transform services to respond to the changing financial context and the opportunities afforded by an integrated planning and building control service.
• To play an active role in the Council’s wider leadership team and contribute to the wider directorate.

You’ll be fully supported to grow in this role. We work flexibly, in a hybrid way and expect a presence by you in the office and/or borough for a minimum of two days a week. Getting to know the borough is an important part of the role.

For more information on this role in our candidate pack, including the job description, information about Sutton, the benefits offered and how to apply, please get in touch.

Please note that the primary contact for this position is Lucy Butler: 07935 222378

Please note that the primary email for this role is

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