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Benefits: Golden Hello payment of £5000 to suitably qualified and experienced candidates (pro rata and terms and conditions apply); relocation package available; RTPI professional fees paid; learning and development opportunities; generous holiday entitlement; flexible working arrangements.

Join our ambitious Planning Team

South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils are delivering an ambitious growth agenda across Greater Norwich. From unlocking strategic housing sites to enabling employment growth and infrastructure delivery including a significant number of NSIPS, our One Planning Team is at the heart of shaping the future of our communities.

We are now recruiting to this pivotal role to help us deliver high-quality development and sustainable growth.

As a Principal Planning Officer, you'll lead on complex and strategic planning applications, mentor junior staff, and play a key role in shaping policy implementation. You'll be a confident negotiator, a clear communicator, and a trusted decision-maker. Your work will directly influence the quality and character of development across the district.

What you could be part of…

We have a lot to deliver, handling circa 4000 planning applications per year covering two diverse districts which include urban areas, rural areas and vibrant market towns.

We have some significant housing and commercial sites to deliver alongside enabling infrastructure including large scale residential schemes in Broadland's Growth Triangle, key employment sites including enterprise zones, a significant number of NSIPs and renewable energy projects and a newly adopted Local plan for Greater Norwich to deliver against.

Working in a multi-disciplinary team and reporting in to the Area Manager, the Principal Planning Officer role is a key member of the team, responsible for helping to oversee the delivery of an effective development control function across a defined area of the two districts. The Principal Planning officer will be directly responsible for their own caseload of large and more complex planning applications, as well as managing the processing and determination of planning and other associated applications/appeals by other officers through direct line management.

You'll join a forward-thinking, supportive team that values innovation and collaboration. We're committed to professional development and offer flexible working arrangements, generous leave, and a modern office environment.

About You

You will… be qualified to degree level in planning or a related discipline, be a chartered member of the RTPI or eligible and capable of gaining chartered membership within one year, have a full driving license and significant and demonstrable post qualification experience of development management within a local authority or private practice.

Closing date: Sunday 17th August 2025 at 11.30pm

Interview date: Friday 29th August 2025 Horizon Business Centre

Why Join Us?

We offer flexible working hours for most office-based roles, allowing for a healthy work-life balance. As part of our team, you will enjoy a range of employee benefits, including free onsite parking, employee discounts, a competitive holiday allowance, wellbeing initiatives, and the opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.

You will be joining a progressive and supportive organisation that is committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

The Councils reserve the right to close any and all vacancies at any time if there is judged to be a sufficient number of applications received.

South Norfolk and Broadland Councils are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and all applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate checks for the position, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.