Principal Planning Officer

Overview

We are looking for driven and passionate people to work with us to deliver real benefits for our residents and businesses and become part of the Knowsley Journey

• Location: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Municipal Buildings, Hybrid Working, Free Parking
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Hours: 36 hours per week. Consideration will be given for part time working.
• DBS Check: No
• Closing Date: 11/03/2026 at 23:59
• Reference: CVP 0546

Knowsley Council is an award-winning Local Authority, named Local Authority of the Year in the Municipal Journal Awards 2024.

We are an Accredited employer under the Liverpool City Region Fair Employment Charter, demonstrating that we are committed to the principle of fair employment and we are dedicated to providing a healthy, fair, inclusive and just workplace.

Come join us and be part of our success.

The Government’s ambition alongside Knowsley’s commitment to economic growth and housing delivery makes this an exciting time to further your career in town planning here in Knowsley.

Knowsley is about to embark on the second phase of its journey to deliver a sustainable future for the Borough.

Knowsley has an enviable track record of delivery with developments such as Halsnead Garden Village and East Halewood now underway. As a consequence of our development activity over the last decade the Borough’s population has increased by 9% and there are approximately 1,000 new businesses which has been fuelled by the adoption of our Local Plan in 2016. Despite our last local plan only being adopted 8 yrs ago we are due to soon commence a new local plan which will be equally as ambitious as our last one.

The next phase of our growth will include the delivery of a £200m regeneration of Huyton town centre (including a new council HQ), the continued development and expansion of Halewood, Kirkby and Prescot Town Centres and the identification and delivery of new housing and employment sites across Knowsley.

As a principal planning officer in the Development Management team you will have opportunities to shape and influence Knowsley’s future growth by dealing with some of the strategic applications the Council will be considering. You will provide expert advice to Members and stakeholders, and contribute to strategic growth initiatives. You will also mentor junior officers and help drive service improvements.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience of handling complex and major applications to work in a friendly and pro-active results drive environment. You will have excellent communication and negotiation skills with an ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure.

At Knowsley Council we will consider requests for flexible working. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, working from home, compressed hours, part-time.

We welcome applications from residents and beyond, regardless of background, belief, or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their under representation in our workforce.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applicants.

At Knowsley we value our applicants and want them to feel well-informed and welcomed. If you have any questions about this specific job role or what it is like to work at Knowsley, please contact:

Your Application Form should be tailored to reflect the competencies within the person specification.

Please note if an Application Form does not reflect the person specification it is unlikely to be shortlisted. To upload your Application Form you will need to click on the link below and create an account with Jobs Go Public if you have not already done so.

You will also be required to input your name and email address and will be invited to complete an equal opportunities questionnaire.