Principal Planner
Castle Point Borough Council
Temporary, Full Time
£50.00 - £55.00 ph (umbrella)
Location: Castle Point
Closing Date: 8th May 2026
Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Castle Point District Council to recruit a Principal Planner on an initial six-month temporary basis with a view to being extended.
The Opportunity:
Castle Point Borough Council are currently going through an exciting period of change and growth in areas such as planning, regeneration and housing. They are seeking to appoint a temporary Principal Planner who can contribute to the new ‘Castle Point Plan’, building new relationships and supporting the development in housing and regeneration in the Borough.
This role is being offered on a hybrid basis whereby you will be required to be in the office at least 2 days per week and the rest working from home.
Main responsibilities:
To be the lead Development Management Officer for the consideration of major and strategic planning applications, including pre-application advice, input in master plans, working with partners to ensure infrastructure provision and ensure delivery of corporate priorities.
1. To be familiar with legislation, government and council guidance and policy as it relates to the Council’s statutory responsibilities with regard to the control of development.
2. To assist prospective developers and the general public in the preparation of development proposals through the explanation and implementation of the Council’s adopted policies, including written and oral advice as well as pre-application advice.
3. To provide general advice on planning matters to agents, councillors and the public.
4. To prepare evidence in respect of planning appeals and where appropriate to represent the Council as expert planning witness at Hearings and Public Inquiries.
5. To provide guidance to officers from other departments of the Council, as well as other statutory bodies and agencies on planning matters in general including written and oral advice either as pre-application advice or at meetings.
6. To assess and process planning applications and other statutory forms of planning application and consultation, including but not limited to checking the validity of applications, undertaking site inspections, commissioning appropriate consultations, analysing and preparing reports, assessing development viability, negotiating S106 agreements and presenting cases at committee meetings.
7. To feed into and support other officers undertaking major enforcement work as required, by assisting with planning history, undertaking site inspections, interviewing relevant persons, making appropriate recommendations, preparing enforcement reports, planning contravention notices, enforcement notices and dealing with subsequent appeals.
8. To represent the Planning Manager or Head of Place and Policy or their representatives at meetings as required.
The experience you will bring:
9. A planning degree or related qualifications and a licentiate or full member of the RTPI
10. Able to deal with a personal caseload of major commercial and residential applications, in particular sites located within the Green Belt
11. Ability to be flexible and to prioritise and project manage a varied workload independently
Castle Point Borough Council is proud to be a disability confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
Castle Point Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.