Planning Officer
£30,024-£29,862 pa + benefits
Horsham
Horsham District Council is looking for a Planning Officer to assist with the preparation of the Horsham District Local Plan.
Horsham District is a key area for new development and growth in West Sussex, which means that this is an exciting time to join our busy planning policy team. Our current local plan is at examination, and you will have an opportunity to get involved in this process. The Council is also commencing the preparation of a new local plan under the recently implemented planning regulations. There will therefore also be further opportunities to work develop new planning policies and consider future development sites that will shape the future of this area.
As a Planning Officer you will undertake site assessments, evidence‑based preparation and public consultation events. You will also liaise with development management colleagues to provide support and advice in relation to planning applications and prepare responses to government or other organisations consultations.
About you
To succeed as a Planning Officer, you will be educated to degree level with a planning qualification or equivalent experience. You will be an excellent communicator, able to display a high standard of written work and an ability to communicate with a range of people from different backgrounds, including ethnic, social and professional, both verbally and in writing. You will also have excellent research and analytical skills and be able to work as part of a team or on your own initiative. Good time management and organisational skills are also essential. Site Assessments, monitoring and research requires occasional site visits. Therefore, a full driving licence and access to a vehicle is required to be successful in this role.
About us
We have a friendly and supportive working environment and being a smaller Council, you can really get to know everybody.
We encourage and support our employees to have a healthy work life balance by offering 28 days (207.2 hours) of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro‑rata), and flexible/hybrid working options. The policy team works flexibly, generally spending half our time in the office, half working from home. We do not have set working-from-home days and flexibility is required to come in on any day of the week if required to support the work of the team.
We offer a generous benefits package including an online platform offering discounts from online retailers and access to a car lease scheme. Staff are also eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), where the Council contributes circa 20% of pensionable salary.
To support employees’ professional development the Council provides reimbursement for professional subscriptions and a number of training opportunities, including extensive in‑house learning resources, short courses, Apprenticeships, and qualifications such as Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Visit our Jobs and careers page to find out more about Working for Horsham District Council and Our employment commitments.
To apply
If you would like to apply for the role, we highly recommend you show clearly within the ‘Experience Section’ of the application form how you meet the essential criteria detailed within the Role Profile when applying. If you do not make this clear, it is unlikely you will be shortlisted for interview.
Internal applicants, if you would like to apply for the role, please submit an expression of interest to HR@horsham.gov.uk explaining clearly how you meet the criteria and what you feel you can bring to the role.
Ref: P1759
Hours per week: 37
Closing date: 15th June 2026 at 12.00
Interview date: 29 June - 10 July 2026
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