Principal Planning Officer

Salary

£57,493 - £60,443

Reference number

BUC14310

Contract type

Permanent

Working hours

Full Time

Level of DBS check required

Not applicable

Date posted

4 Dec 2025, 11 p.m.

Application deadline

4 Jan 2026

If you have substantial relevant experience as a technical expert in the planning or environmental sector and are looking to develop your career, this could be the role for you.

By joining us as a Principal Planning Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, you'll not only be offered a competitive benefits package, you'll also be part of a team committed to shaping the future of Buckinghamshire for generations to come.

As one of the largest Council's in the country Buckinghamshire covers an area of 724sq miles to the west of London and is one of the England's 'Big 8' Council's.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous four district authorities with the County Council to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

At Buckinghamshire Council we are dedicated to delivering high-quality planning services to the residents of Buckinghamshire. The Major Development Management team is responsible for the performance management of Major applications across the whole of the Buckinghamshire Council area with a focus on the use of Planning Performance Agreement's in which we have established an innovative approach. This role will work collaboratively with the rest of the Development Management to provide strategic direction and vision for the service to all stakeholders. The team also plays a crucial role in planning appeal inquiries and hearings and providing expert advice to elected members and committees, ensuring that the planning process is transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the community.

In addition to their technical expertise, the Development Management Team is committed to fostering a collaborative and customer-focused approach. They work closely with various stakeholders, including other council departments, local communities, and external bodies, to achieve key planning outcomes. The team is proactive in driving service improvements and adopting innovative practices to enhance productivity and service delivery. With a strong emphasis on performance management and continuous professional development, the Buckinghamshire Council Major Development Management Team alongside the Development Management Area Teams strives to maintain a resilient and adaptable service that meets the evolving needs of the residents and supports the Council's strategic objectives.

Working as part of a friendly team you'll be responsible for managing and determining complex planning applications and lead on providing professional advice through all stages of the planning process, including Planning Performance Agreements, S106 negotiations and planning appeals as you provide a high-quality service that is responsive to customer demands. You will also mentor planning officers, contribute to strategic planning, and help drive performance and income targets.

The role is presently based in our South/East Majors team, which includes the market towns of Amersham, Chesham and Beaconsfield. The area covered by the team offers a wide range of opportunities across both urban and rural environments.

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are therefore essential to this role. This is a highly rewarding and fulfilling role - you'll see the impact of your work in front of you

Rachel, a Principal Planning Officer at Buckinghamshire council, recently described her role and experience with the Council.

" As Principal Planning Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, I manage large strategic applications that support the government's growth agenda. The role has strengthened my autonomy and decision-making on complex projects, while allowing me to shape design work, including developing design codes with the Urban Design team. I'm supported by a highly skilled planning team who are generous with their knowledge and foster a workplace that is both professional and enjoyable".

Charles Power, Major Development Manager at Buckinghamshire Council said, "As a Principal Planning Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality development and shaping the county's growth. This position offers exposure to complex projects, opportunities to mentor and influence policy, and a clear pathway for career progression. The varied workload will strengthen your expertise while contributing to a forward-thinking planning service."

With a strong and supportive senior management team behind you, you'll play a key part in helping us achieve our Planning and Environment Service plan and drive forward our vision as a unitary authority.

We are seeking a highly experienced and ambitious Principal Planning Office to join our team and be part of a forward-thinking, supportive planning service. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in development management, particularly in PPA's and handling major planning applications and clear understanding of the impact of current and emerging policies on Planning Policy and Local Plans, with or eligible for RTPI membership. Please apply if you have:

Substantial experience in a planning role, ideally within a local authority

• You have excellent communication skills and experience in dealing with complex customer queries.
• You come to us with the relevant specialist experience within the service area.
• You have a proven ability to manage complex caseloads and meet statutory deadlines
• You are people-focussed and enjoy building new relationships, with the welfare of our residents at the heart of what you do.

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

The team currently work a hybrid working style with a mandatory 2 days a week from one of the 3 office locations with the main office base being Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe.

Closing date: 04/01/2026.

Interview date: to be confirmed

Interview-type / process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Charles Power or

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that's why we're working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it's important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council's land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

It's a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you'll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.