Appeal Planning Officer

Job summary

Join us as an Appeal Planning Officer and play a key role in shaping planning decisions that have a lasting impact on communities across England. This is an opportunity to work on a wide range of planning appeals and specialist casework, applying your professional knowledge to complex and varied issues within a respected national organisation.

You'll be part of a collaborative and supportive team, working alongside planning professionals who are committed to delivering fair, impartial and high quality outcomes. With access to ongoing learning and development opportunities, this role offers the chance to broaden your expertise, build your professional capability and contribute to work that directly supports the planning system and sustainable development.

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please see the information pack attached. You can also view our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Job description

As an Appeal Planning Officer, you'll play an important role in supporting the delivery of planning appeals and specialist casework. You'll assess evidence, analyse information from a range of sources and contribute to well reasoned recommendations that inform planning decisions. The role also offers opportunities to work closely with Planning Inspectors, collaborate with colleagues across the organisation and engage with a variety of planning issues, while ensuring work is delivered efficiently, impartially and in line with relevant legislation and guidance.

For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience working in land use planning or a related discipline, such as architecture, engineering, law, environmental management, ecology, surveying, urban design, heritage conservation or transport planning.

• Experience of making, or contributing to, decisions and recommendations through the analysis of complex information from a range of sources.

• Communicate clearly and confidently, producing evidence-based recommendations and building effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Work independently, using initiative and sound judgement to resolve day to day challenges and identify solutions.

• Deliver high quality work to agreed standards and timescales, demonstrating self-motivation and organisational skills.

• Show a commitment to continuous learning, with an enthusiasm for developing new skills, knowledge and experience.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Experience of making, or contributing to, decisions and recommendations through the analysis of complex information from a range of sources.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,284, Planning Inspectorate contributes £11,090 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.

• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.

• 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King’s birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.

• Generous family friendly policies.

• Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:

• A CV: The CV section is an opportunity for you to detail your career history. It should outline the jobs you have done, the length of time you were employed within each role and a brief description of your role, responsibilities and duties which demonstrate relevance to the role you are applying for against the essential criteria. You must type, or ‘copy and paste’ into the text box called ‘Employment History’ within the online application. You cannot attach a copy of your CV.

• A Personal Statement (750 words max): The personal statement allows you to outline your suitability for the role in more depth, expanding on your CV evidence. It is an opportunity for you to provide evidence against the essential criteria listed within the candidate pack on the Person Specification.

• 250 word statement against the lead sift criterions (see below).

• Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test: As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a verbal reasoning test. This assessment is designed to evaluate your ability to understand and interpret written information accurately and make logical conclusions. It forms an important part of the selection process and helps us ensure fairness and consistency for all applicants. Candidates are strongly encouraged to complete their verbal reasoning test at least two hours before the vacancy closes. Submitting the test alone does not complete your application, and you must still submit the application form before the closing date and time.

We will assess your application on the evidence you have provided against the Essential Criteria detailed in the Person Specification in the candidate pack.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may carry out a lead sift. As part of this, you will be required to submit a 250 word example demonstrating how you meet the Lead Sift criterion listed below. We will assess this first, and only candidates who meet the criterion at this stage will have their full application reviewed.

• Experience of making, or contributing to, decisions and recommendations through the analysis of complex information from a range of sources.

All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.

Questions and Answer Session:

We will be holding a Question and Answer sessions on Monday 19th October 2026 –use this link to join. This provides you with the opportunity to speak to Planning Inspectors about their experience of working at the Planning Inspectorate. If you cannot make the date, we will be happy to send you a copy of the recording. To take up this opportunity please email us at: PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Interview

If you are shortlisted, you will:

• Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
• Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength and experience questions
• Candidates will be required to complete a written assessment as part of the selection process.

Candidates who are successful at shortlist stage will be sent full assessment requirements with their interview invitations.

Other Information

Shortlist Date: 26th October 2026 – 6th November 2026

Interview Date: 30th November 2026 – 7th December 2026

Interviews will be held in person at our office in Bristol, 10-minute walk from Temple Meads train station

The Planning Inspectorate does not fund travel and subsistence for candidates to attend interviews.

We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.

ID and Documents

If specific qualifications/memberships are essential for the role and you are successful, you will be asked to provide accurate scanned or photographed images of the qualifications/memberships that you listed on your application prior to your start date.

We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.

Visa Sponsorship

The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates, we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.

Disability Confident Interview scheme

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

To be considered for an interview under the scheme you must:

• Have a disability defined by the Equality Act 2010

• Provide evidence in your application that you meet the minimum criteria in the job description

• Meet all of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential

While we will endeavour to provide you with all the appropriate information, you are the expert on your specific requirements so if you require any adjustments, you should consider the information provided about the assessment process in the candidate pack and then:

• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. The earlier and more clearly you tell us what you need and why you need it, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate you in a timely fashion.

All Planning Inspectorate colleagues must meet the baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window). This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity and employment history.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Adam Thompson
• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact in the first instance: The Vacancy Manager via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).

If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).

If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitme…

Attachments

EVP(Great_Place_To_Work) Opens in new window (pdf, 534kB)Appeal_Planning_Officer_Candidate_Pack_ Opens in new window (pdf, 206kB)