Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

Description:

Location: Shropshire – Hybrid Working
Pay: £32.54 per hour PAYE
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: 3-month rolling contract
Hybrid: Predominantly remote – 1 office day per week (Thursday)
Site Visits: Required
Driving: Full driving licence and access to own vehicle essential

We are recruiting for an experienced Senior Planning Enforcement Officer to join a busy Planning Enforcement and Development Management service in Shropshire.

This is a senior-level position requiring someone who can confidently manage their own complex planning enforcement caseload, provide specialist advice and support colleagues across the wider enforcement service.

The team handles more than 500 planning enforcement cases each year, ranging from significant unauthorised developments to smaller technical breaches.

### The Role

You will take responsibility for planning enforcement cases from initial investigation through to resolution and formal action where necessary.
Key responsibilities will include:

Managing a varied and complex planning enforcement caseload

Investigating alleged breaches of planning control

Evaluating evidence and determining appropriate enforcement action

Providing specialist professional and technical planning enforcement advice

Liaising with internal departments, external agencies and other stakeholders

Preparing detailed reports and recommendations for delegated decisions

Identifying appropriate remedial action where development does not comply with approved plans, conditions or relevant requirements

Preparing and presenting reports to Planning Committee

Attending court hearings, public inquiries and other formal proceedings

Preparing and presenting evidence

Supporting planning enforcement appeals

Undertaking site inspections across the county

Maintaining accurate case information on Development Management systems

Supporting improvements to planning enforcement procedures and service delivery
The Council specifically requires the postholder to undertake case management, evaluate evidence, prepare recommendations and attend committees, court hearings and public inquiries where required.

### Senior Responsibilities

This isn't just a standard Enforcement Officer position. The successful candidate will also support the Principal Planning Enforcement Officer and provide guidance across the wider service.
The full specification includes line-management support for enforcement and technical support officers, monitoring individual and team performance and contributing to projects and service improvement.

### About You

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

Significant experience within Planning Enforcement
Strong knowledge of planning legislation and Development Management
Experience managing complex enforcement investigations
Ability to assess evidence and determine appropriate enforcement action
Experience preparing enforcement reports and recommendations
Confidence dealing with difficult or contentious cases
Experience with planning appeals, hearings, inquiries and/or court proceedings
Strong report-writing and communication skills
Experience advising a range of internal and external stakeholders
Ability to work independently and manage a demanding caseload
Previous senior, supervisory or mentoring experience would be advantageous
Local authority Planning Enforcement experience would be highly desirable
Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle

### Working Arrangements

The role is predominantly remote, with one office day per week on Thursdays, alongside site visits as required.

The Council's substantive JD lists the primary base as the Guildhall, Shrewsbury, with regular home working. It also confirms that having a suitable vehicle available for work is a condition of the role.

£32\.54 PAYE per hour \| 37 hours \| 3\-month rolling contract \| Hybrid

If you're an experienced Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, Planning Enforcement Officer or Enforcement Planner looking for your next contract, please apply with your latest CV