Planning Officer (North West)

Planning Officer – Basics * Day Rate: £350 – £425 per day * Location: UK North West Area (Hybrid Working Available) * Contract Length: 3–6 months (with potential extension) * Start Date: As soon as possible * IR35: Inside IR35 Planning Officer – Overview You will support the delivery of a high‑quality, efficient Development Management service for a busy North West‑based authority. You will manage a varied caseload of planning applications, provide clear written and verbal professional advice, and ensure decisions are made in accordance with planning legislation, national policy and local planning frameworks. You’ll work within a supportive team structure, including Senior Planning Officers, Principal Officers and Technical Administrators who assist with validation, queries and workflow support. Planning Officer – Key Responsibilities * Manage and determine a caseload of planning applications, including householder, minor and change‑of‑use proposals. * Provide professional pre‑application advice to applicants, agents, councillors and internal teams. * Prepare high‑quality officer reports, recommendations and delegated decisions. * Attend and contribute to planning committees where required. * Undertake site visits, appraisals and assessments to inform development recommendations. * Ensure decisions comply with the National Planning Policy Framework, local plan policies and material considerations. * Engage with consultees such as Highways, Environmental Health, Conservation and Urban Design. * Maintain accurate case records using planning case management systems. Planning Officer – Applicant Essentials * Strong understanding of UK planning legislation, the NPPF and Development Management processes. * Experience processing planning applications within a local authority or planning consultancy. Skills & Competencies * Excellent written communication, especially report writing and clear recommendation setting. * Strong analytical and decision‑making skills. * Confident communicator, able to manage discussions with applicants, agents and councillors. * Ability to negotiate professionally, balancing stakeholder interests with policy compliance. * Good organisational skills, able to prioritise workload effectively. Knowledge * Solid understanding of local plan policy, design principles, heritage considerations, highways issues, and environmental constraints (e.g., ecology, flood risk, TPOs). * Ability to use planning case management systems and GIS tools. How do I apply for this Planning Officer position? If you’re interested — or know someone who may be a strong fit — click Apply and submit your details along with an up‑to‑date CV. We welcome planning professionals from all backgrounds. We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process, so feel free to apply using a CV, video message, voice note, WhatsApp message or any format that works best for you