This is an exciting time to join Somerset Council. As the second-largest Unitary Authority in the UK, we have a huge breadth of work, and plenty of interesting projects, including:

• Local Development Orders
• Development Consent Orders
• Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
• Major residential and Commercial developments
• Our Emerging Local Plan
• Enforcement Policy

We also have a successful history of gaining Levelling up and Homes England funding - which means there will be a range of new things to work on in the coming years as we deliver key community facilities, infrastructure and public realm improvements.

We currently have a range of opportunities across our Development Management team and Enforcement and Appeals teams.

Development Management

Area Manager

£63,528 per annum (which includes a recruitment allowance of £14,246 per annum for up to 3 years).

As Area Manager you’ll be leading two area teams focused on delivering high quality development within Somerset. Both of these areas include key economic and residential growth areas, significant infrastructure, national landscape and opportunities to work collaboratively to ensure service delivery as well as being the lead officer for two Area Planning committees.

Principal Planning Officer

£56,528 per annum (which includes a recruitment allowance of £7,246 per annum for up to 3 years).

As a Principal Planning Officer, you’ll be assessing and determining a range of major applications from Residential, Commercial and allocated sites, and have the opportunity to manage Planning Performance Agreements on strategic sites to provide for the 18,000 homes allocated in the Local Plan. As Principal Officer you would also manage a small team of Planners and Senior Planners. 

Senior Planning Officer

£44,060 to £48,431 per annum (which includes a recruitment allowance of £2,289 payable for up to 3 years).

As a Senior Planning Officer, you’ll be assessing and determining a range of minor/major planning applications including change of use, residential and commercial development, working pro-actively and negotiating to ensure the highest quality outcome. You’ll be working within one of the small area teams within Somerset, supported by other Seniors and Principals, and engage with the public and elected members.

Enforcement and Appeals

Enforcement and appeals currently have a vacancy for a Principal Planning Officer to lead the team and vacancies at Senior and Planning Officer level to investigate potential breaches of planning and take appropriate action.

Principal Planning Officer

£56,528 per annum (which includes a recruitment allowance of £7,246 per annum for up to 3 years).

As a Principal Officer in the Enforcement and Appeals Team you’ll manage the Area Enforcement Officers across the Somerset area and be responsible for overseeing all Enforcement Action. You will support the Senior and Enforcement Planning officers in assessing breaches of planning control and determining appropriate action in accordance with the Somerset Enforcement Policy. You’ll need to demonstrate good professional and interpersonal skills engaging with the public and elected members.

Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

£44,060 to £48,431 per annum (which includes a recruitment allowance of £2,289.00 payable for up to 3 years).

You’ll be responding to and assessing breaches of planning control, carrying a caseload, working pro-actively, negotiating to ensure the appropriate outcomes and taking action where necessary. You would be supported by the Principal Enforcement Planning Officer and by other Seniors. You would also engage with the public and elected members.

Enforcement Officer

£37,280 to £41,771 per annum

With a caseload of more minor breaches of planning control, you’ll respond to and assess cases working pro-actively and negotiating appropriate outcomes, taking action where necessary. You’ll be supported by the other Enforcement Officers, Seniors and Principals, and engage with the public and elected members.

 

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We are looking for qualified planners and enforcement officers, with experience of determining and negotiating on complex caseloads within a Local Authority environment. You would need to be or be eligible to become a Chartered Planner, if you are not already Chartered, this will be encouraged for your development once in the role.

For the Principal roles, you will ideally have management experience but if you’re a Senior Planner or Enforcement Officer and feel ready to step up, we’ll support and help development you into a Principal role.

What’s in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management and the opportunity for a wealth of CPD and peer support with a significant number of planners in the wider Authority.

We operate a hybrid available with 2 days per week in the office, attendance at committee meetings and site visits with the option for homeworking for the rest of the week.

 

We also have some fantastic employee benefits available including the below:

·      We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.

·      Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.

·      Staff discounts in gyms.

·      Employee Assistance Programme and a variety of employee wellbeing services.

·      Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.

·      A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.

·      My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more…

 

Anything else I should know?

If you would like an informal chat about the Development Management roles you can contact Zac Ellwood via email at [email protected]

For the Enforcement roles you can contact Dawn deVries via email at [email protected].

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you.

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/vacancies/?dept=Planning+and+Transport

Closing date: 30 September 2025