Advertising & Recruitment Update

July 29, 2026

Why planning recruitment remains challenging for councils and consultancies

Recruiting planners continues to be one of the most difficult tasks for both public and private sector employers. Demand remains high across Development Management, Enforcement, Policy and Strategic Planning, but the candidate pool is limited — especially at mid‑to‑senior levels.

Councils face additional challenges: budget constraints, competition from consultancies, and the need for officers who can handle major applications, enforcement investigations or complex policy work. Many authorities are turning to specialist job boards to reach candidates who aren’t active on generalist platforms.

Consultancies, meanwhile, are competing for planners with strong client‑facing skills and experience across multiple sectors. Developers and housebuilders add further pressure by offering attractive packages for planners with strategic land or major applications experience.

Clear job descriptions, realistic salary bands, and targeted advertising remain the most effective tools for employers. Specialist platforms continue to outperform generalist sites because they reach planners directly — reducing time‑to‑hire and improving candidate quality.

Recent Blogs

  • Newsletter Article
    Strategic Planning Teams Preparing for Major Infrastructure Consultations Strategic Planning teams are preparing for a series of major infrastructure consultations scheduled for autumn, including transport
  • Advertising & Recruitment Update
    Local Plan Activity Driving Demand for Policy Specialists Local Plan activity remains high across England, with several authorities progressing through Regulation 18 and 19 stages
  • Rolling Weekly Digest
    Heritage Enforcement Complaints Increasing Across Conservation Areas Planning Enforcement teams are reporting a steady increase in heritage‑related complaints, particularly in areas with large conservation zones
  • Daily Planning Update:
    Development Management Pressures Rising as Summer Applications Surge Development Management teams across the UK are reporting a noticeable uplift in application volumes as summer progresses,
  • Daily Planning Update
    Local Plan Timetables Tighten as Authorities Push Toward 2026 Milestones Local plan production remains a dominant theme across planning teams, with many authorities working toward