Senior Planning Officer; Career Grade

Overview

Cheshire West and Chester Council brings a fresh and energetic approach to providing top quality services for its many customers and communities. Our busy and friendly planning team is growing – we are looking to welcome motivated, skilled and experienced colleagues to work on a wide variety of planning applications and help us deliver sustainable development across the borough. We are a progressive employer offering a range of employee benefits and the opportunity to work on a range of interesting and challenging projects in a supportive environment.

Cheshire West and Chester is a dynamic, high performing council delivering great outcomes for its residents through its people. If you are interested in joining our committed and innovative planning team, we look forward to hearing from you.

Our borough features a rich and varied landscape, with a wide range of urban and rural communities including the main centres of Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford. We are a large, friendly, supportive and innovative planning team dealing with around 4000 planning applications each year, offering the opportunity to get involved in a great variety of proposals such as major housing developments, large commercial/industrial sites, energy projects and rural diversification schemes, whilst protecting the countryside and Green Belt and preserving and enhancing our distinct heritage – including the beautiful walled city of Chester with its concentration of listed buildings and Area of Archaeological Importance.

• Manage and determine more complex planning applications and deal with associated appeals.
• Assist with NSIPs and support planning enforcement and planning policy teams.
• Work as part of a friendly and committed team of planners and support staff.
• Demonstrate ability to work independently, manage workload and make decisions with high levels of trust and autonomy.
• Carry out site visits and attend remote meetings.

• Extensive experience of dealing with a variety of complex planning issues, preferably in a local authority environment.
• Excellent communicator and clear commitment to providing outstanding customer service.
• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a car.
• Ability to work in a hybrid role with flexibility between home and modern offices in Ellesmere Port.

This is a hybrid worker role, meaning that your working time will be split between home and our modern offices in Ellesmere Port. We are committed to flexible working practices and promoting a healthy work/life balance.

Nick Smith, Senior Planning Manager, nick.smith2@c