Salary
£36,684 to £45,498 per annum
Contractual hours
37
Basis
Full time
Job category/type
Permanent - Full Time
Date posted
10/09/2025
Job reference
BREQ0405
We have a great opportunity for a Senior Planning Enforcement Officer to join our Planning Enforcement team.
About the Role
This role will be pivotal within the team, and you will be responsible for a diverse caseload of planning enforcement cases, including all the related case management and customer liaison.
You will be carrying out site inspections, offering advice, and resolving breaches of planning control through the most appropriate action. This will include, where necessary, the drafting of reports and formal notices, collecting evidence in a prescribed manner, the preparation of case files for legal/appeal proceedings and giving evidence at Court or during the appeal process. You will also take on the more complex cases, holding developers to account for any wrongdoing whilst assisting with mentoring junior Officers in the team and covering for the Planning Enforcement Manager on occasion.
This is an exciting time to work for Braintree. The District will grow significantly in the coming decades, and we are looking to embrace this challenge to deliver well-designed new homes, jobs and the infrastructure required to support this growth, whilst being careful to preserve its character and quality. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our District. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents an opportunity to make a very real difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of the everything we do.
What we're looking for
As a Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, you will be responsible for investigating and resolving breaches of planning control for complex cases. This will draw on your experience and knowledge of planning legislation along with your proven ability to interpret plans, compose comprehensive reports and handle demanding and sensitive situations. You will have strong interpersonal, persuasion and negotiation skills with experience of bringing contraventions to a resolution in a fair and proportionate manner.
Demonstrable experience within a Local Planning Authority environment is essential. We therefore welcome applications from experienced Planning Officers looking for a change of direction as well as experienced Planning Enforcement Officers looking to take a step up to a more senior role within a busy and innovative team.
Working on your own initiative and using your knowledge and experience, you'll manage your own caseload, ensuring compliance is achieved by taking formal action where necessary in the shape of serving notices, deal with appeals and represent the Council as a witness at appeals and prosecutions in Courts. You will have gained experience of working on a range of planning matters and, ideally, you will have a working knowledge of CPIA, PACE and RIPA rules.
The successful candidate will have a strong work ethic, excellent verbal and written communication, and customer service skills, as well as the necessary motivation to deliver high performance whilst working to tight deadlines.
Your expertise, skills and experience will be valued with us and your career development within the field will be supported. We are committed to creating a collaborative and innovative environment with allows you to thrive, we have had many officers who have progressed their careers through a supported study programme.
You will become part of a friendly, supportive team with the chance to make a real difference to the shaping of our district. You'll also play a key part in helping us achieve our aims and assist in driving forward our vision for the area. We offer flexible working arrangements, with a balance of home and office working.
It is fundamental to the role that you have a full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes. Regrettably, applicants without a full driving licence and/or access to a vehicle cannot be considered.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic, ambitious, and friendly team.
If you feel that you have the experience to meet the requirements of this role and would like an informal discussion, please contact Darren Tuff, Planning Enforcement Manager on
For more information, please see the Job Profile.
To apply, click Apply online.
Guidance on the application process and helpful hints can be found here: Application Guidance.
Why choose Braintree District Council?
Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the District located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community.
Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach, which is led by our employees, and are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Our people see the difference they make and how the work they do actively contributes to and encourages positive change in the local community.
We also offer some great benefits, including:
* Flexible working
* Local government pension scheme
* Learning and development for all employees
* Employee discounts at local businesses
* Employee recognition schemes
* Extensive health and wellbeing programmes, including discounted gym membership
The closing date for this Senior Planning Enforcement Officer opportunity is midnight on Sunday 5th October 2025.
Interviews will be held w/c 13th October 2025.