Principal Planner
Braintree District Council
Temporary, Full Time
£55.00 ph umbrella
Location: Braintree
Closing Date: 15th July 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 1 day per week on site.
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.