Band 3 Planning Inspector

Job summary

Shape the future of planning while leading complex, high-profile casework.

As a Band 3 Planning Inspector, you’ll take on a pivotal role in shaping planning decisions across England – guiding panels, influencing outcomes, and delivering projects that matter. This is a position that combines leadership with collaboration, strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, and independence with support.

At this level, you’ll lead panels of fellow Inspectors, providing direction and challenge where needed, and ensuring hearings and examinations are conducted to the highest standards. Your interpersonal and leadership skills will be key as you manage sensitive, often high-profile public events with confidence and authority. You’ll work closely with multi-disciplinary teams, balancing significant individual responsibility with the ability to mentor and develop others over time.

This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity, values flexibility, and wants to make a lasting impact on planning and development across England.

Job description

What you’ll be doing:

As a Band 3 Planning Inspector, you’ll take on some of the most complex and high-profile casework in the planning system. Your work will be varied and impactful, combining leadership, collaboration, and technical expertise.

• Deliver a broad range of Band 3 Local Plans casework, ensuring examinations are completed efficiently and to the highest quality standards.
• Lead the most complex Local Plan examinations, gateways, and planning appeals, including public events as an individual Inspector or as a panel chair/lead Inspector, meeting statutory deadlines.
• Provide leadership and coordination when acting as panel lead, guiding colleagues from the outset and throughout the examination, offering mentoring and management oversight.
• Contribute to wider organisational initiatives and projects, supporting the Planning Inspectorate’s operational and strategic aims.
• Champion continuous improvement, helping to develop new ways of working, systems, and processes that enhance performance, service delivery, and customer satisfaction.
• Support the development of other Inspectors, through coaching, mentoring, and quality assurance of reports, decisions, and other written work.
• Act as a proactive role model for the Inspector Profession, leading by example and embodying the Planning Inspectorate’s Core Values.
• Represent the organisation at external events, sharing good practice and promoting key Planning Inspectorate messages.

What makes this role unique?

There’s no such thing as a “typical” week for a Band 3 Planning Inspector. Your work will vary depending on the examination you’re leading and its stage in the process. You might be preparing for an examination – reviewing evidence, drafting matters, issues and questions, and liaising with Programme Officers or panel colleagues. If you’re working as a single examiner, you’ll manage the entire examination. As a panel chair, you’ll take responsibility for organising the division of work among the panel and managing your own work programme.

Other weeks, you could be in the thick of an examination – attending site visits or leading hearings in public, sometimes staying away from home. Hearings may also be conducted virtually from your home office or another suitable location.

Between examinations, you’ll focus on writing clear, well-structured recommendation reports, preparing training materials, or undertaking advisory visits. There may also be opportunities to work on Section 78 appeals, including written representations, hearings, and inquiries.

While much of your work will be home-based, you’ll never feel disconnected. You’ll collaborate extensively with professional support teams, join virtual meetings and learning sessions, and attend in-person events when needed. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with colleagues – whether through virtual Lunch and Learn sessions or informal meet-ups with fellow Inspectors nearby.

For further information please see the Candidate Pack attached.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This role is being advertised at Band 3.

Working hours:

Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available.

Part time at 18.5 hours or above, flexible working hours policy available.

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 visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Person specification

We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria listed:

Essential Criteria

• Full / Chartered membership of a professional body (see separate list on page 7 in candidate pack) relevant to the work of an Inspector.
• Significant Experience of working in at least one of the following areas of expertise: planning, relevant area of law. Transport, engineering, relevant area of health, environmental impact assessment, heritage, building/landscape design, energy, minerals, waste or water.
• Significant experience of influencing and negotiating involving different groups of stakeholders.
• A significant experience of working both independently and leading a small collaborative team in reaching decisions on high level complex projects involving policy, legal and/or planning matters.
• A demonstrable ability to work both independently and leading a small, collaborative team.
• A demonstrable ability to lead and actively manage planning events in which there are high levels of public interest and engagement.
• Effective interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with significant experience of influencing and negotiating with both technical and professional parties, the public and/or public bodies in a high-profile setting.
• Significant experience of making decisions under pressure, effectively using your own initiative, encouraging collaboration between parties.
• Significant experience of assessing, understanding, critically analysing and/or weighing up complex and detailed information and evidence from multiple sources, in order to identify the issues on which you will need to focus your attention and reach robustly reasoned conclusions.
• Significant experience of writing clear, accurate and concise decisions / reports that reach logical, convincing, well-reasoned and evidence-based conclusions on a wide range of complex technical, legal and policy issues to deadlines.

For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Memberships

You must hold Full or Chartered membership of a recognised professional body at the point of application. Please note that Associate, Affiliate, or similar entry‑level memberships are not sufficient.

Your professional membership must demonstrate that:

You are an experienced practitioner within your field.

You are required to maintain your professional competence, including keeping your skills and knowledge up to date.

You are bound by your professional body’s code of conduct, ethical standards, and regulatory framework.

Please state your current membership status and the professional body with which you are registered.

For a full list of acceptable Professional Bodies and Membership Levels, please refer to the Candidate Pack for this vacancy.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• A significant experience of working both independently and leading a small collaborative team in reaching decisions on high level complex projects involving policy, legal and/or planning matters.
• Significant experience of assessing, understanding, critically analysing and weighing up complex, detailed information and evidence from multiple sources to identify issues requiring attention and reach robust, well‑reasoned conclusions.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £77,741, Planning Inspectorate contributes £22,521 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

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

• A CV: The CV section lets you share your job history. List your jobs, how long you worked at each, and briefly describe your roles and duties. Make sure to show how your experience matches the essential criteria of the job you're applying for. Type or paste this information into the 'Employment History' box in the online application. You can't attach your CV.
• A Personal Statement (1000 words max): The personal statement lets you explain why you're a good fit for the job in more detail. Use it to show how you meet the essential criteria listed in our advert and connect your answers to the Success Profile elements we're looking for.
• 250 word statement against the lead sift criteria (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.

We will assess your application on the evidence you have provided against the Essential Criteria 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 both Lead Sift criterions listed below. We will assess this first, and only candidates who meet the criterion at this stage will have their full application reviewed.

• A significant experience of working both independently and leading a small collaborative team in reaching decisions on high level complex projects involving policy, legal and/or planning matters.
• Significant experience of assessing, understanding, critically analysing and/or weighing up complex and detailed information and evidence from multiple sources, in order to identify the issues on which you will need to focus your attention and reach robustly reasoned conclusions.

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

Question and Answer Session

We will be holding a Question and Answer sessions on 3rd February 2026 at 11:30 am - https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/34855536959979?p=sNyYVJYKAX635JKOa6 . 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 dates, 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 and experience questions.
• Candidates will be required to complete a written assessment as part of the selection process.
• Need to prepare and deliver a presentation

Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.

Other Information

Shortlist Date: w/c 23rd February 2026

Interview Date: 9th March 2026 – 30th March 2026

Interviews will be held remotely using MS Teams. The interview will not be recorded or retained, other than usual interview protocol and in line with Civil Service Jobs privacy notice.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Future Matches

Candidates who demonstrate strong potential and future readiness but score just below the required level at interview may be considered for alternative positions. These roles may be at a lower grade but align with their skills and offer opportunities for growth.

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 the job needs specific qualifications or memberships and you get the job, you'll need to send scanned or photographed images of them before you start.

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/Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service values diversity and offers equal opportunities. We have a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the job's minimum criteria. We will also provide reasonable adjustments to all where possible. For more information please see Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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 : Andrew Megginson
• 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)446650_Candidate Pack_Band 3 Opens in new window (pdf, 502kB)