PRINCIPAL PLANNING OFFICER

Job Category : Technical

Location : Huyton Library, Knowsley, L36 9GD, Knowsley Borough Council

Hours Per Week :36.00

Start Date : immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:30
Salary: £30.42

Purpose of the job

The Major Development Team will provide an enhanced service and dedicated

resource to key investors and developers. The team will help accelerate the delivery

of housing and economic growth schemes, to deliver innovative solutions that secure

delivery whilst proactively helping developers to bring forward stalled schemes.

The Major Development team will be responsible for the delivery of the Council’s

pipeline schemes for housing, transport and economic development, the

implementation of the three Town Centre masterplans whilst ensuring delivery of the

nine sustainable urban extensions. The team will manage and deliver the following

major programmes:

• Halsnead Garden Village

• Oakford East of Halewood

• Knowsley Lane

• Shakespeare North

• Kirkby Town Centre Regeneration programme

• Prescot Town Centre Regeneration programme

• Huyton Town Centre Regeneration programme

Duties and responsibilities

This is not a comprehensive list of all the tasks, which may be required of the post

holder. It is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the work to

be undertaken.

1. To manage a varied major development caseload in the Major Development

team, consisting of the Knowsley’s most high profile and complex residential and

commercial development schemes. This includes:

• To apply advanced practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of

legislation, policy and practice relating to a varied and complex major

development caseload.

• To coordinate and analyse detailed plans and technical reports submitted in

support of development proposals.

• To undertake site visits to assess site conditions and context to fully inform

analysis of technical reports and development proposals.

• To liaise and consult with internal and external colleagues, and partner agencies,

including the analysis and synthesis of a range of detailed technical advice

relating to development proposals.

• To manage the negotiations and define with applicants the appropriate commuted

financial contributions and / or delivery of various mitigation and enhancements,

including scrutinising viability assessments, within the context of the Council’s

policy framework and ensuring the best outcome for the Council.

• To draft schedules and formulas for planning legal agreements ensuring the

timely and effective negotiation of and processing of significant S106 legal

agreements and Unilateral Undertakings in relation to planning decisions.

• To report directly to and brief the Council’s programme sponsors including the

Chief Executive, Executive Director/Assistant Executive Director on relevant

Development Management issues relating to the Major Development Programme.

• To produce high quality, detailed committee reports, making appropriate

recommendations, and to report directly to the Head of Planning Services for the

signing off of Planning Committee reports.


Skills, knowledge, experience etc.

1 Ability to embrace the values of KMBC, whilst providing

excellent customer care

2 Substantial experience at senior level in planning

development management including the assessment of Major

Planning applications, presenting at Planning Committee,

attending public meetings and experience of public appeals.

3 Substantial experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team

with experience of contributing fully to a whole team approach

to planning decision-making.

4 Advanced knowledge of current legislation and best practice

in the assessment of major complex planning applications

including the adherence to national and local planning

legislation and other related technical disciplines. Knowledge

of the legislative and policy context within which the Major

Development Team will deliver.

5 Experience of caseload management and assessment, to

report on a variety of major planning applications

6 Experience of preparing evidence for planning appeals and

representing the Council either through written

representations or informal hearings.

A, I

7 Practical evidence of experience of and ability to support

landowners and developers to bring forward Development

from plan to delivery.

8 Experience of undertaking site investigations/ observations A, I

9 Experience of ability to analyse and interpret complex

technical specifications and issues

10 Experience of Planning Enforcement A, I

11 Ability to lead and motivate staff, within a culture of seeking

innovative problems solving and continuous improvement in

service delivery.

12 Practical experience of Performance Management and

Project Management tools and techniques to achieve

business objectives.

13 Excellent communication and negotiation skills, including

ability to resolve conflict in difficult situations

14 Ability to communicate effectively with elected members and a

range of partners, stakeholders and the community.

15 Excellent IT and presentation skills, including database and

Microsoft Office programmes.

16 Experience of negotiating and securing financial contributions

and off site improvement works from developers and drafting

terms of S106 and legal agreement to secure the commuted

sums and schemes of works

17 Ability to deploy high level organisation skills with ability to

work effectively to meet deadlines

Test

18 Flexible approach to work to meet the organisations and other

targets.

Qualifications

19 Degree in town and country planning or a closely related

subject.

20 Membership of (or eligible to join) RTPI. 

Health and safety

21 Ability to use equipment as instructed and trained 

22 Ability to inform management of any health and safety issues

which could place individuals in danger

Personal attributes and circumstances

23 Time management and personal organisational skills 

24 Political and organisational awareness 

25 A considerable commitment to flexibility, both in terms of

duties undertaken and the need to occasionally work outside

normal hours

26 An ability to keep a positive perspective and perform well

including during difficult situations

27 Driving licence and access to a vehicle for site visits