Principal Planning Officer - Economic Growth

In this role, you will influence the quality of business accommodation across Essex, by providing evidence and guidance to internal colleagues, Local Planning Authorities and scheme promoters.

Over the course of a week, you might:

• Apply your town planning qualification or equivalent experience to propose amendments to the draft employment chapter of an emerging Local Plan, representing the Council at a meeting with economic development officers at one of our 12 district, borough and city councils


• Use your analytical skills to extract relevant information from the Essex Business Accommodation Dashboard, bolstering the case for a different mix of unit sizes and uses at a new business park to that proposed by the developer


• Use your influencing skills to secure Section 106 obligations for an employment allocation at one of our four Garden Communities, maximising economic development outcomes for residents and businesses


• Work with our Planning team to draft the Council's responses to two planning applications for major employment sites, prioritising your inputs according to their potential impact on both the Essex economy and our Levelling Up Priority Places


• Carry out initial planning appraisal for an opportunity being considered by our Essex Renewal Fund, to ensure an appropriate balance of costs, benefits and risks for the Council


• Use your knowledge and understanding of urban design to provide feedback on the draft masterplan for a proposed Innovation District, ensuring that the needs of business occupiers in our five key growth sectors are taken into account


• Brainstorm creative solutions to close a viability gap, responding positively to changing economic and property market conditions


• Share market intelligence with our inward investment colleagues, to facilitate the private sector investment required to turn today's employment land allocations into tomorrow's business accommodation


• Provide accurate and up-to-date information about the County's business accommodation development pipeline, helping a Cabinet Member to prepare for a meeting with one of our fast-growing firms


Essex is a county replete with untapped potential and this is an excellent opportunity to shape its economic growth, for the benefit of our residents and businesses.


• Holiday entitlement of 27 days per annum (plus bank holidays), with the opportunity to buy additional annual leave.


• Local Government Pension Scheme, including life assurance of three times annual salary


• Learning and Development Opportunities


• Employee Wellbeing and Counselling provision


• Employee Networks


• Volunteering leave


• Eye care vouchers, travel discounts, season ticket loans and much more!


There is also an employee Rewards Scheme available for all permanent employees, which includes:

• Retail and restaurant discounts


• Cashback on purchases


• Private health and dental care plans


• Cycle to Work scheme (via Salary Sacrifice)


• Tax free savings on Childcare (via Salary Sacrifice)