Principal Planner

Principal Planner

Braintree District Council

Temporary, Full Time

£55.00 ph umbrella

Location: Braintree

Closing Date: 2nd October 2026

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Braintree Council to recruit a Principal Planner on a temporary basis for a period of 6 months. Please note role will be based on site 1-2 days per fortnight.

Job purpose

To act as Case Officer for strategic and major scale planning applications and appeals, including where Planning Performance Agreements are utilised.

Accountabilities

• To take responsibility as case officer for key strategic developments, including all the related project management; consultee and community liaison; Council Member interface and engagement of specialist consultancy as tasked by the Housing Delivery and Growth Team leader.
• The provision of advice to Planning Committee on all aspects of Development Management relating to planning applications for which you are the Case Officer; preparing Committee reports and recommendations and helping to assemble agendas.
• To attend Planning Committee meetings alongside the lead Officer and present reports and recommendations where you are the Case Officer.
• To mentor and support Planners who provide assistance to the role in the context of specific development proposals at pre-application, application and post-decision stages.
• The implementation of all aspects of the Council’s plans and policies through Development Management and through liaison with the Planning Policy team and other Council Services.
• To assess planning and related applications, discuss proposals with applicants, undertake site inspections and advise the public on proposals, as appropriate.
• To prepare evidence for appeals and represent the Council at Hearings and Public Inquiries if required.
• To represent the Development Management Service, as required, in the development of cross-Service corporate strategies and projects.

Skills, knowledge & experience

• Planning degree or equivalent qualification and eligibility for RTPI Membership
• Relevant experience in a range of strategic and major scale development management work with a planning authority, including appeals, reporting to Committee and other formal and informal meetings
• Experience of negotiating Section 106 agreements
• Experience in a range of Development Management (DM) work, including complex applications, appeals and providing pre application advice
• Understanding of Planning Law and national planning policies/guidance relating to DM
• Ability to interpret plans and understand related information
• Ability to prepare clear written reports/statements fit for the relevant audience
• Ability to present reports to public/member meetings
• Ability to work to plan own workload and meet concise deadlines
• An awareness of the national planning policy perspective
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Current UK Driving Licence and access to a car
• Good knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities

Why choose Braintree District Council?

The Development Management Team at Braintree District Council is a great place to work. This role is needed to add additional capacity to the existing team rather than to backfill a vacancy and is reflective of the increasing quantity of exciting strategic scale work which the team is accommodating. The team at Braintree is a friendly, approachable and well established team with a positive approach and a high level of professional pride.