Uttlesford is a unique district, with Saffron Walden voted the country’s “Best Place to Live 2025”. It is also home to the expanding London Stansted Airport, and picture-postcard market towns and villages. Our Planning Service has experienced a significant transformation over the past two years. Our Development Management and Building Control Teams are thriving, high-performing, and fully staffed. We have just taken our local plan through examination and expect to adopt it in early 2026. This is your chance to contribute to the continued success of the Planning Service, our emerging policy framework, and the future of the district itself.
Due to an internal promotion, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Graduate Planner to join our high-performing Local Plans Team. This is an ideal role for a motivated and enthusiastic graduate looking to begin or build their career in planning policy within a supportive and forward-thinking local authority.
We are looking for someone with:
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A good understanding of planning policy and the planning system
• The ability to analyse data and present information clearly, both in writing and in person
You will contribute to a wide range of policy-related work, including the preparation and monitoring of planning policy, supporting neighbourhood planning groups, and developing design guidance. This is a varied role that offers real responsibility and the opportunity to develop professionally while helping shape the future of the district. You will receive ongoing professional development and support for RTPI accreditation.
Uttlesford District Council is a family friendly Council. We encourage and support our employees to have a healthy work life balance as well as offering a range of benefits including generous annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro-rata), leisure centre discounts, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and an online platform offering discounts from online retailers.
Uttlesford the place, is made up of four main communities (Stansted Mountfitchet, Saffron Walden, Thaxted and Great Dunmow) as well as around 100 smaller villages and hamlets spread throughout the area. It is the largest geographical district in the county of Essex, covering 63,752 hectares.
We have repeatedly been identified as one of the best places to live in the UK, due to our low crime levels, high quality education services and the quality of our local amenities.
We have the highest number of listed buildings in the county of Essex, reflecting the historical significance of the area. Uttlesford is a great place to live and work. It offers an excellent quality of life where you can enjoy a peaceful rural environment even though you are within an hour's journey from the centre of London, and closer still to the historic city of Cambridge.
Uttlesford District Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and proud to support our care leavers and the Armed Forces Covenant. Anyone disclosing a disability or is a care leaver or is a member of the armed forces community (veteran/service leaver, reserve forces or their spouses/partners or cadet force adult volunteer) whose application meets the essential criteria for the post will be guaranteed an interview.
