Job Description

Salary:

41,511 - 43,693

Hours per week:

37 hours

Interview date:

Monday 16 June 2025

Planning - Shaping Tomorrow's Communities Today

Our Planning Service is at the heart of Wiltshire's growth and development. We ensure that every decision we make promotes high-quality place-shaping, guided by policy and best practices in urban design. As a statutory and regulatory service, we're responsible for delivering housing and employment in line with our adopted

Local Plan

.


We're on an exciting journey to elevate our planning services, and we're looking for passionate professionals to be part of this transformation. Our Enforcement Team plays a vital role in the planning process, ensuring high-quality, sustainable development in line with the Development Plan and other relevant considerations.


As a Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, you'll oversee various enforcement cases, ensuring compliance with planning policies. You'll lead investigations into alleged breaches of planning laws, covering areas such as listed buildings, advertisements, and protected trees. Your role involves making decisions on appropriate actions, from negotiated compliance to prosecution preparation, while also assessing threats to public safety and protecting the environment. You will be expected to competently draft enforcement notices, reports, and witness statements, and act as the Council's expert witness as and when required.

Skills, Knowledge & experience required

Degree in a related subject or significant experience in investigative, regulatory, or enforcement roles, with knowledge of planning legislation and procedures. In-depth understanding of planning practice, listed buildings, and conservation legislation, with experience preparing and interpreting appeal statements and representing at planning inquiries. Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills; ability to manage complex planning cases, lead discussions, and secure community infrastructure contributions. Capable of managing workloads, supervising others, and making sound professional judgments within a complex policy framework.
This role may be subject to certain successful security checks; please see the role description for more information.

Benefits

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. That's why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right. As part of our agile and high-performing team, you'll enjoy:


Flexible working hours Local Government Pension Scheme Hybrid working arrangements with modern, open-plan offices in our hubs at Trowbridge, Chippenham, and Salisbury Career development opportunities Exciting and varied projects that make a real difference to our communities
Please download and read the

role description and person specification

carefully before you apply, as well as

Our Identity

.


Please ensure that if you are submitting a CV then your cover letter includes how you meet the essential criteria of the role description, why you are applying for the role, and what skills you would bring to the role. For more details, please contact Darren Hobson, Planning Enforcement Manager, at

Darren.Hobson@wiltshire.gov.uk

, or call 01722434624 ext. 54624.

New to Wiltshire?

Wiltshire is a place where people love to live and work. One of England's largest unitary councils, it offers beautiful landscapes, diverse heritage, and attractive towns and villages. Located on the eastern edge of the Southwest region, we border counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, and the combined West of England authority. Wiltshire enjoys strong sub-regional links and is within commutable distance of London, Bristol, Southampton, and the South Coast.


We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services. Read our

statement of commitment to equality and inclusion

.

Disability Confident Employer

Please ensure to regularly check your spam/junk folder for any communication from us regarding your application status. We wouldn't want you to miss out on any important updates or interview invitations. Thank you!