Planning Officer, Enforcement
Hailsham / Hybrid
Permanent / Full Time
£42,788.64 - £44,695.08 (includes essential car allowance)
Application Deadline: 03/12/2025
Interview Date: 11/12/2025
Are you an experienced planner that wants to ensure that development is carried out
in a compliant manner as well as protecting our environment and communities from
unauthorised works? Then this role is for you!
Who are we looking for?
The Planning Enforcement Team is dedicated to ensuring our communities have a
good quality of life and that our built and natural environments are protected by
taking robust but proportionate action in relation to breaches of planning control.
This role would consider a variety of breaches of planning in the district, so we’re
looking for someone who has experience in investigating such matters and is able to
conclude them effectively and efficiently.
What will the role involve?
- Investigating breaches of planning control, in a variety of urban and rural
settings.
- Preparing reports to make recommendations on appropriate enforcement
proceedings, presenting those schemes to planning committee where
required.
- Providing advice and conducting negotiations with contraveners to achieve
the best possible outcomes and deliver 5-star customer service.
- Liaising with various stakeholders, including residents, officers from other
service sections, elected members, and external bodies ensuring they are
appropriately updated ion the progress and outcome of investigation.
- Providing informal support and mentoring for junior officers.
What skills, knowledge and abilities do you require for the role?
- Experience in planning and the application of expert knowledge within a
enforcement and development management context.
- Customer service skills, being particularly adept at speaking with those who
have conflicting demands and priorities.
- Knowledge of relevant law, policy and guidance related to planning and
related matters.
- Communication and negotiation skills, being able to discuss breaches in a
clear, constructive, and professional manner to achieve robust and
proportionate outcomes.
- Experience of defending actions taken by the Council at appeal or via legal
proceedings.
For more information
For more information and an informal chat about the opportunity please contact Jon
Honeysett, Planning Enforcement Team Leader, on 01892 602409 or Samuel
Batchelor, Development Manager, on 01892 602552.
Planning Officer, Development Management
Hailsham / Hybrid
Permanent / Full-Time and Part-Time position available
£42,788.64 - £44,695.08 (includes essential car allowance)
Application Deadline: 03/12/2025
Interview Date: 11/12/2025
Who are we looking for?
Wealden District Council is committed to delivering sustainable development and
providing our communities with a 5 star planning service.
This is an opportunity for someone who has some planning experience and wants to
further their career or for someone who is adept at dealing with a variety of
application types but wants to do that in a district with a varied history and
landscape.
You will be part of a team that helps to process around 3000 applications, applying
planning law and policy and delivering positive outcomes for our communities and
businesses.
What will the role involve?
- Preparing planning reports on development proposals.
- Providing advice and conducting negotiations with applicants to achieve the
best possible outcomes and deliver 5-star customer service.
- Liaising with various stakeholders, including residents, officers from other
service sections, elected members, and external bodies to ensure material
consideration are taken into account and that decision making is open and
transparent.
- Engaging in pre-application discussions, taking opportunities to front load
planning considerations and make the formal planning application process run
smoothly.
- Dealing with planning appeals.
What skills, knowledge and abilities do you require for the role?
- Experience in planning and the application of expert knowledge within a
planning policy or development management context, including at appeal.
- Customer service skills, being particularly adept at speaking with those who
have conflicting demands and priorities.
- Knowledge of relevant law, policy and guidance related to planning and
related matters.
- Communication and negotiation skills being able to discuss proposals in a
positive, constructive, and professional manner to deliver positive planning
outcomes.
- A planning or relevant degree qualification or, as an alternative, considerable
experience in planning matters.
What do we offer?
- Competitive salary & pension scheme.
- A friendly, supportive team.
- Opportunities for continuing professional development.
- Hybrid working.
For more information
For more information and an informal chat about opportunities please contact
Stephanie Wood on 01892 602474 or Caitlin Boddy on 01892 602539.
About Wealden
Wealden District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share
this commitment.
We are committed to maintaining a diverse workforce and an inclusive work
environment. We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and
communities, and all applications will be treated on merit.
Ethical Use of AI in Applications
We welcome innovation and do not automatically exclude candidates who use AI
tools during the application process. However, we assess each application to ensure
the candidate genuinely understands the role and its requirements.
AI may be used ethically and responsibly, provided it supports, rather than
compromises our core values of integrity, transparency, and fairness. During
assessments and interviews, candidates must present their own skills and
experience without assistance from others, external resources, or AI, unless
explicitly instructed otherwise.
