Principal Planning Officer

Job Introduction

Principal Planning Officer – Gilston Area Team
Principal Planning Officer x 2 – Strategic Applications Team
Grade 9 – 10 up to £54,189 (plus local weighting) plus an additional £3,500 Market Supplement*

Full Time, 37 hours per week, permanent. Blended/home working available, Hertford.

Are you an ambitious planning professional looking for a new challenge?

Are you looking to develop a skillset in negotiating and taking a lead on complex major planning applications including one of the largest complex major planning applications in the country planning for a whole new community of 10,000 homes?

Are you keen to develop practical skills in managing and mentoring junior officers, leading by example within a busy team environment?

Could you thrive in a progressive public sector environment making a real difference to the residents of East Herts?

If so, we're looking for three dynamic, highly talented and motivated Development Management Principal Planning Officers to join the Gilston Area Team (x1) and the Strategic Applications Team (x2).

In the Gilston Area Team, you will manage the complex suite of applications required to take the outline permissions through the detailed masterplanning and reserved matters stages towards the delivery of the Gilston Area development.

In the Strategic Applications Team, you will manage complex major and strategic developments across East Hertfordshire including sustainable urban extensions to the 5 main towns in the District, and other sustainable locations. We have two Principal Planning Officer posts available in the Strategic Applications Team.

These roles provide great opportunities for enthusiastic planning professionals looking to widen their experience through complex major and strategic development proposals across a range of urban, suburban and rural settings situated in a rich, diverse and historic environment.

You will play a key role in supporting the delivery of significant housing, community, commercial and employment development sites in the district, including allocated sites, helping us achieve sustainable development of the highest standards of design, where active and sustainable travel is the priority, to protect our unique array of heritage assets and conserve the beautiful natural environment that surrounds us while enabling the creation of new habitats and opportunities for nature recovery, recreation, health and wellbeing.

Gilston Area Team Role: Granted planning permission in January 2025 the Gilston Area will deliver seven new villages containing new homes, community infrastructure, commercial and retail development plus complex infrastructure projects. Masterplanning the first villages is ongoing alongside detailed applications marking the first step towards delivery.

The Gilston Area Team are looking for a capable and experienced planner to manage a complex and varied workload and to work closely with delivery partners to ensure the detailed planning stage delivers upon the commitments secured at the outline application stage.

As a Principal Planning Officer in the Gilston Area Team, you will manage a caseload of complex planning and related applications, including pre-application submissions. You will also exercise delegated powers to determine applications and to take a project managed approach to teams, leading and mentoring junior colleagues. Providing a service that is efficient and effective, you will oversee all stages of the process from initial assessment, through to committee reporting, legal agreements, conditions and appeals.

Strategic Applications Team Role: The Council's Growth Strategy focuses on sustainable urban extensions and redevelopment of brownfield land and sustainable locations within the key settlements including those in Hertford, Bishop's Stortford, Ware and extensions to Welwyn Garden Suburb and Stevenage, in addition to the Gilston Area. The Council is in the process of preparing an ambitious new District Plan to deliver growth over the new Plan Period.

As a Principal Planning Officer in the Strategic Applications Team, you will manage a caseload of complex planning and related applications, including pre-application submissions, focusing on development management. The applications will comprise a range of complex major planning applications and listed building consents, including housing, commercial, community, employment, renewable energy (BESS & Solar Farms) and heritage and leisure-led developments.

The role will involve you exercising delegated powers to determine applications across the Development Management Team and to take a project managed approach to assessing planning applications including as part of Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs), whilst leading and mentoring junior colleagues. You will oversee all stages of the process from initial assessment, through to committee reporting, legal agreements, conditions and appeals.

Additionally, you will:

• keep up to date with case law, national and local policies and community needs to ensure that the planning process can deliver the best outputs and outcomes
• Present casework to decision-making committees and in other public meetings such as Community Forums, Development Management Forums and Steering Groups
• Respond promptly to customers' needs
• Provide guidance, training and support to other team members

The roles will require you to visit and inspect land and development sites and other locations both within and beyond the district.

So, if you want to join us at the head of the curve and become an innovator, designer and environmentalist helping to plan a prosperous future for East Hertfordshire, then apply today

*In line with their pay policy, EHC will review the application of the Market Forces Supplement annually, and if warranted, will make adjustments in liaison with affected staff.

About You
To be considered as a Principal Planning Officer, you will need:

• Experience dealing with major development proposals
• Experience and understanding of the planning legal obligation process
• Project management experience
• Experience dealing with planning issues and communicating these at committees and public meetings
• Experience guiding, mentoring and supporting junior colleagues
• A degree in Town and Country Planning and/or post graduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (or equivalent)
• A current, valid driving licence, access to your own vehicle and the ability to travel across the district, occasionally at short notice

Why Join Us?

• Make a real impact on the future of East Herts.
• Supportive and inclusive work environment.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Competitive salary and benefits package

How To Apply
For an informal discussion regarding the Gilston Area role OR the Strategic Applications Team roles, please contact Martin Plummer, Service Manager Development Management and Enforcement on or Jenny Pierce, Gilston Area Team Leader on or Neil Button, Interim Strategic Sites Team Leader on

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role by 7 December 2025. For more information, visit our website or contact the above officers.

East Herts District Council are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing diversity and maintaining a firm commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We believe that creating inclusive environments leads to stronger collaboration and better outcomes in our work.

Attached documents:

• Principal Planning Officer - DM (PLAN) JD & -
• Principal Planning Officer - GILSTON JD & PS -