Senior Planning Officer Jobs

A Senior Planning Officer is an experienced development management or planning policy professional within UK local authorities. Senior Officers manage complex planning applications, lead negotiations, prepare detailed reports, and provide expert advice to applicants, councillors and stakeholders. They play a key role in delivering housing, regeneration, infrastructure and sustainable development.

Senior Planning Officers often specialise in major applications, strategic sites, regeneration projects, conservation areas or policy development, depending on the authority’s structure.

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Main Responsibilities

• Manage complex and major planning applications
• Prepare detailed committee reports and recommendations
• Lead negotiations with applicants and developers
• Provide expert planning advice to internal teams and external partners
• Mentor Assistant Planners and Planning Officers
• Contribute to policy development and strategic planning projects

Typical Employers

• Local authorities
• Combined authorities
• GLA, OPDC, LLDC and public sector planning bodies
• Public sector regeneration organisations

Salary Range

Senior Planning Officer salaries typically range from £36,000 to £52,000, depending on location, experience and authority type. London and major urban authorities often offer higher salary bands.

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Progression Routes

• Principal Planning Officer
• Team Leader / Lead Planner
• Development Management Manager

Related Job Titles

• Planning Officer
• Assistant Planner
• Principal Planning Officer
• Planning Policy Officer

See all planning jobs
https://www.planningjobs.com/