Planner (Career Grade)(Enforcement)

Make a Difference in Shaping Our City

We’re looking for a motivated and customer-focused Planner (Career Grade) – Enforcement to join our Planning team within the Development and City Services Directorate. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in ensuring that development across the city complies with planning legislation and contributes positively to our communities.

Whether you're just starting your planning career or looking to build on existing experience, this career-graded post offers a clear pathway for progression and development.

Job Description

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Investigating alleged breaches of planning control and taking appropriate enforcement action.
  • Providing clear, professional advice to the public, colleagues, and elected members.
  • Monitoring compliance with planning permissions and Section 106 agreements.
  • Preparing reports, statements, and evidence for appeals, hearings, and court proceedings.
  • Supporting continuous improvement and innovation in service delivery.
  • Collaborating across teams to deliver positive outcomes and uphold the Council’s values.

    • Responsibilities

  • Work within the planning and regulatory service to deliver a pro-active, responsive, and co-ordinated approach to enforcement activities to ensure compliance with planning and related permissions
  • Provide advice/guidance on whether breaches of planning control have occurred and take appropriate action within the regulatory legislative framework and council policies to remedy
  • Investigate cases of potential planning infringements including carrying out site inspections an assembling appropriate and reliable evidence
  • Prepare reports or statements on enforcement matters. Make recommendations in relation to alleged breaches of planning legislation, about breaches where it is not considered to be expedient to enforce and to ensure matters are progressed to an acceptable and agreed outcome. This includes negotiating remedies to breaches of planning control through voluntary compliance or through taking formal enforcement action
  • Ensure all work complies with relevant legislation and council policies
  • Regularly review and monitor s106 agreements to ensure compliance with trigger dates and the payment of commuted sums or direct provision of facilities on site. Co-ordinate action across the council to ensure that appropriate and timely action is taken and to work with colleagues where a breach has occurred
  • Present reports to Committee and at other meetings as required
  • Preparing reports or statements on enforcement appeals. Assisting Planning Officers with any evidence or reports concerning appeals and contribute/give formal evidence if the appeal is considered at a Hearing/Inquiry
  • Prepare and provide written evidence and to appear as a witness at Inquiries, informal hearings and in Court
  • Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of planning and enforcement issues/practice
  • Give advice to the public on planning enforcement and deal with all enquiries within agreed time frames
  • Contribute to the continuing performance improvement of the service and customer delivery
  • Contribute as required, to cross-working between teams (including job exchanges) to gain experience and competence in a range of different planning roles and responsibilities, as part of a planned programme of CPD
  • Contribute to the induction, training, and development of team members (dependent on level of post)
  • Proactively contribute to change management by taking a systems thinking approach in order to identify areas for improvement

    • Skills Required

    Essential:

  • A strong interest in planning enforcement and regulatory work.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.
  • Ability to manage a varied caseload and work independently.
  • Commitment to customer service and continuous improvement.

    • Desirable:

  • Experience in planning enforcement or development management.
  • Knowledge of planning legislation and enforcement procedures.
  • Eligibility for or membership of the RTPI (or working towards it).

    • Educational Requirements

    First degree or equivalent that would allow entry onto RTPI accredited postgraduate degree or relevant planning enforcement course

    Why work for us

    Our council is full of people who have chosen to work in local government because they want to help others and make a difference to their lives or the environment in which local people live.

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    We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

    Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the council provides. We also offer good career prospects with competitive rates of pay, generous holidays and working arrangements to suit all lifestyles.

    Equal Opportunities Policy

    The council is committed to a policy of equality opportunity in employment, in recruitment and the services we provide. Applications are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post regardless of sex, gender reassignment, race, ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, domestic responsibilities, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. People with disabilities are guaranteed an interview provided they are suitably qualified and/or experienced.

    Candidates will be considered for shortlisting on the factual information on their application form. Therefore it is important to give as much detail as possible including information about experience gained outside employment.

    Benefits

    We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package and are proud to have the Living Wage accreditation. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

  • All employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
  • Paid holiday entitlement starts at 26 days per annum and increases with length of service to a maximum of 33 days per annum. This is pro rata for part-time employees
  • In addition to the statutory public holidays, we grant an additional statutory day leave at Christmas
  • Norwich City Council supports its employees through the provision of occupational health and employee assistance support
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