"Happy to talk flexible working"
Principal Planning Legal Role - MVDC.mp4
About us
It's exciting time for all things planning in our district Our colleagues in Planning Policy have successfully delivered a new Local Plan for Mole Valley. Adopted in October 2024, it won an award at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) South East Award for Planning Excellence 2025. A number of significant planning applications have been submitted to our Development Management team, some speculative, others for strategic sites allocated for development. Our Planning Enforcement team is working hand in hand with the Development Management team to ensure that all development in Mole Valley is delivered in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and our own Local Plan so as to secure much needed new homes and associated facilities whilst protecting the very characteristics that make Mole Valley such a beautiful place to live, work and visit.
About the role and team
This is a brand-new role. You will be the "go-to" person for all things planning but with the benefit of the support and infrastructure that comes from joining a well-established and highly regarded Legal Services team. You are guaranteed variety, ranging from reviewing and negotiating section 106 agreements, considering certificates of lawfulness, advising on potential breaches of planning, representing the Council at informal hearings where appropriate and instituting proceedings, whether in-house or through outsourcing, including instructing and managing Counsel and external solicitors. Some recent examples of work this year range from bringing a key 'test case' against MHCLG, representing the LPA at an informal hearing on an allocated site in connection with the section 106 agreement, seeking Counsel's opinion in relation to the interpretation of affordable housing provisions, and issuing stop notices to protect against unauthorised development.
About you
You will be a qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate with demonstrable and significant knowledge and understanding of planning law and practice (including relevant legislation, caselaw and policy), with a track record of working at a senior level in planning law and practice and advocacy experience of representing your client at public inquiries and informal hearings, and an awareness of local government laws, practices and procedures.
Alongside the wider technical skills that are essential to your role, we value strong communication and relationship building skills, the ability to remain calm and focused in potentially high pressure situations and as an in-house solicitor, whilst an advisor, you will need to be willing to come off the fence and advise your colleagues on a recommended course of action, whilst articulating the opportunities as well as the risks, to enable a well informed decision to be reached.
For you
Hybrid working with flexibility (if your role can offer hybrid working)
We're less about you driving to work and more about driving down our carbon footprint (meeting our pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030).
Our hybrid working policy offers many employees the opportunity to work from home up to three days at week should they wish (pro rata for part time working).
In support of our people and our Climate Change Strategy, we welcome hybrid working and are happy to talk flexible working too, where appropriate to the role. There are some roles where hybrid and/or flexible working may not be possible, particularly where we need to be responsive to meet the needs of our residents and businesses. Wednesdays are currently the teams "all-in" day.
Further info
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Tom Penlington, Service Lead and Solicitor to the Council on or Emma Day, Executive Head of Service (Solicitor) on
Closing date for applicants:
Open until we find the right person for the job
Interview dates:
To be arranged with the individual. To take place in person.
How to apply
Visit our careers website click
apply online
, complete the short application form and submit your
up to date CV
along with a
supporting statement, if required
(If a supporting statement is required please merge this in to one document with your CV), to let us know how you meet the required skills and experience of the job description and person specification.
"Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion for All"