apT Senior Planning Officer - Fixed Term 2 years.
£32,910 - £35,745 per annum
Grade Scale P03
37 hrs per week

Are you looking for a challenge, and a diverse range of work? Do you want to work in an innovative, positive team that shapes and develops the places we live and work in?

If so apT want to hear from you.

Working in our highly innovative and motivated Development Management Team, the role of our Senior Planning Officer will be a varied one which will reflect the gains of their experience and knowledge. Working towards achieving competencies which will enable them to make an effective contribution to the delivery of Development Management services. This role cover both technical and administrative functions.

apT Development Consultancy is part of Telford & Wrekin Council. We deliver planning services from a team which includes Highways Development Control, Ecology, Conservation, Healthy Spaces and Building Control. We deliver holistic and innovative solutions to all our customers.

We are also visionaries in our field. apT are the Midlands’ first public sector commercial planning, development and environmental consultancy who support developments through the regulation process, from the promotion of land to achieving consents, through to their safe completion on behalf of clients across the region including Shropshire, Cheshire and the wider Midlands.

You will be based in Telford - a destination of vibrant places and experiences where people love to live, work and play. Sitting in the heart of Shropshire, Telford is the gateway between the Midlands and Wales. Rich in heritage and natural beauty, the borough has a vibrant town centre that’s currently expanding and a 450 acre town park with numerous leisure facilities.

This New Town celebrated its 50th birthday in 2018, and continues to grow from the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and one of the UK’s first World Heritage Sites to now delivering more than 76 hectares of employment and circa 17,000 new homes up until 2031, as part of the newly adopted Telford & Wrekin Local Plan.

Being part of apT ensures you will be play a part in the development and creation of creative and positive places for those who live and work in Telford, building a safe and sustainable environment for future generations to enjoy.

To carry out the professional duties of a Senior Planning Officer to be responsible for a full range of development control, minerals and waste matters, including a caseload of planning applications, and related appeals and developer enquiries, and to input to the wider professional work of the Planning Service.

To process a varied caseload of planning applications, within set timescales, including carrying out necessary site visits and negotiation of changes and legal agreements to schemes on behalf of other Council officers and external agencies.

To interrogate, analyse and balance data from many competing needs to produce reports for delegated approval under the Councils scheme of delegation to officers or to Plans Board.

To gather evidence to prepare appeal statements, case files and other legal documents as may be necessary and to attend and give evidence at public inquiries and other formal legal hearings to represent the Council.

To contribute to the development of strategies, procedures and policies in areas assigned to the post. To be responsible for the delivery of service priorities, aims and objectives assigned to the post by appropriate means.

Holding a degree in Town and Country Planning or equivalent, alongside Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, you will work alongside our junior and more senior members of the Development Management Team the post holder will assist in the duty to administer the Development Management function including:

- Having detailed knowledge of statutory planning function and related local government policy including current national, regional, sub regional and local policy context;

- Having full understanding and experience of implementing statutory planning processes;

- Knowledge of development management legislation and policy;

- Effective negotiation and influencing skills to improve and maximise benefits from a scheme, maximising such benefits for the wider public benefit;


- Ability to analyse situations and develop creative and innovative strategies and solutions;


- Ability to understand the political pressures upon the organisation;


- IT literacy;


- Proven and recent experience of involvement including preparation and presentation of evidence, at examination in public;


- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team;


- Be able to work on own initiative and with minimal supervision.

For further information please contact Andrew Gittins - 01952 384555 andrew.gittins@apT-group.co.uk.

Supporting documents
Job Description & Person Specification