Planning Policy Manager

• LCC857_Planning_Policy_Manager_Sept_2025

Why Lancaster?

We’re an award-winning, kind and responsible council. We’re incredibly proud of our district and communities that reach from coast to the mountains, including the historic City of Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and many other beautiful places.

The district’s combination of an outstanding environment and economic potential offer the most interesting planning opportunities to be involved in shaping.

The Role

The Council have decided to review its Local Plan. We need a Planning Policy Manager who can lead both the Council’s Planning Policy and GIS Team in successfully delivering a new Local Plan which will shape the district for years to come. You will lead a small but multi-talented team in the delivery of a new Local Plan which protects the unique nature and character of this area but also meets the ambitions of the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework, particularly in the delivery of future development needs for the district.

You will support the Council’s ambitions around the digitisation of plan making and local plan delivery, making planning policy and placemaking more accessible for a broader cross-section of our communities.

About You

You will be an experienced planner which a strong and recent understanding of the plan-making process and know what it takes to prepare a robust and sound local plan. You’ll have been working in either the public or private sector and will have the motivation, enthusiasm and interpersonal skills to effectively lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team. You’ll have an academic background in planning and will be a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

This is a hybrid working role however regular attendance will be required in our offices in Lancaster and Morecambe.

Our Benefits

Lancaster City Council is a great place to work, as well as being part of something special you will also benefit from:

• Generous annual leave allowance
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A range of employee benefits including discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme, the opportunity to purchase extra time off, as well as discounts on days out, activities and retail.

Lancaster City Council has unanimously declared a climate emergency and will therefore work towards reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2030. As part of this role, you will be expected to participate and work towards reducing both carbon emissions and the impacts of climate change.

We are an Investor in People, Forces Friendly employer, and an Armed Forces Covenant committed organisation. We welcome applications from defence reserves and other members of our armed forces community. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all parts of our community.

At Lancaster City Council we aim to have a diverse workforce that is representative of the district that we serve and provide a working environment where each employee feels able to bring their whole self to work. We welcome applications from all sections of our community and provide several supportive and inclusive workplace networks and safe spaces for employees to feel connected. Our workplace wellbeing strategy drives our commitment to staff wellbeing initiatives and ensuring that our organisation is a great place to work for all.

We are a disability confident committed employer.

Interview Date: TBC

For further information or an informal discussion on this post please contact Paul Hatch, Service Manager – Planning & Housing Strategy on 01524 582329.