Senior Planning Officer - Implementation

Job summary

We are MHCLG

The Planning Capacity and Capability Team was established in 2022 to support and upskill town planners in local government in building the skills and resources needed to deliver a more efficient and sustainable planning system, which can adapt to and successfully implement change. The team and programme sit within the Chief Planner directorate.

A new part of the programme is joint work with DSIT on the AI Growth Zones which includes proposals to provide enhanced planning capacity and ensure AI Growth Zone planning decisions are consistent, timely, and fully supported by government expertise. This is backed by £4.5m across three years to provide targeted support to places considering AI data centre applications. The programme will also be working with Planning Advisory Service (PAS) to build capacity and enable project delivery.

As part of the Implementation Team this is an exciting opportunity to help establish this planning support through a combination of momentum, speed, capacity and specialist support into local authority services and projects. Whilst project delivery is the main focus of the team, it also has an important role, working with the Planning Advisory Service in capturing and disseminating its learning and using this knowledge to assist the overall development of the planning system.

In addition, you will be part of a team providing wider programme support to the recently launched ATLAS LDN function being led by the GLA ensuring close partnership working and helping coordinate this function alongside the national ATLAS function hosted by Homes England. You will also form part of a small Implementation Team that is also providing support to wider policy teams in the Planning Directorate, notably Spatial Development Strategies and inputting into Local Government Reorganisation. You will be working with internal and external organisations to build strong and lasting partnerships at a local level and build planning capacity during a period of change.

We particularly welcome candidates from an ethnic minority background and other underrepresented groups to apply, as we work to continually improve our ability to represent the places and communities, we support through our work.

Job description

The Implementation Lead will work as part of a small Implementation team to:

• Support the wider Implementation Team to establish the AIGZ planning support service, working with DSIT and OGDs to stand up this service, working closely with Planning Advisory Service (PAS) to establish the programme
• Provide support as part of a team to undertake planning diagnostic analysis of individual projects to fully understand the issues involved and develop clear and effective packages of direct advice and support;
• Ensuring the buy-in of local partners with an ability to think creatively to help project delivery through direct advice and working with our delivery partner Planning Advisory Service; Improve the quality of the planning process and its outcomes, by helping to bring forward large scale development and regeneration projects within AIGZs
• Increase knowledge and expertise within local authorities and their partners to handle proposals within AIGZs to deliver high-quality new places
• Help coordinate the overall governance of the GLA’s ATLAS LDN planning support function and ensuring the dissemination of lessons from the programme’s work on the delivery of large sites alongside the national ATLAS function; Support the design and implementation of a programme of Development Management funding (£7.5m across three years) to the GLA and London boroughs alongside other interventions
• Contribute to wider Implementation activity work across the team as necessary, which may include support to other policy team’s on the implementation of Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) and / or tracking the timely delivery of wider planning reforms alongside Local Government Reorganisation. Contributing to a rolling programme of project evaluation against added value measures as necessary

The post-holder will be responsible for:

• Supporting the establishment and operationalisation of the AIGZ planning support proposals to spread best practice and help drive consistency and speed in decision-making
• Supporting the DSIT Delivery Teams in working with key stakeholders, including local planning authorities, developers, landowners, statutory agencies and Planning Advisory Service (PAS) to diagnose and propose solutions to a wide range of planning, development and regeneration issues
• Providing a range of support to local authorities such as helping commission baseline or other technical work or directing additional resources, where necessary, through the use of grant agreements
• Managing the governance and partnership working with GLA on the ATLAS LDN planning service ensuring programme objectives are met, lessons learnt are disseminated and coordinating with other teams within MHCLG and National ATLAS as appropriate
• Effective contribution towards a positive and collaborative team culture to facilitate and monitor the implementation of wider planning reform activity alongside Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Person specification

• You will have, or be eligible for, a recognised built environment qualification and/or membership of a built environment professional body (RPTI).
• Excellent understanding of planning, development and regeneration issues
• Stakeholder management and enabling skills, co-ordinating across various groups/teams
• The ability to present, produce reports and communicate progress effectively to a senior audience
• Experience of town planning or a related built or natural environment field, including regeneration skills or specialisms such as viability, transport, heritage, archaeology and environment
• Possess excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, with an ability to communicate clearly and succinctly and develop relationships with a wide range of stakeholders Using sound judgement to anticipate problems and seek creative solutions, working collaboratively with colleagues
• The ability to adapt quickly to new demands and work flexibly to deliver quality outcomes and providing advice in a fast-moving environment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,352, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £13,717 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Experience , Strengths

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.

If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at hello@beapplied.com.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 21st June 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 6th July 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)

We are a Disability Confident employer.

We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.

However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.

How We Recruit

Find out more about our recruitment processes here.

• Applying

• Sifting

• Interview

• Interview Results & Feedback

• Reserve List

• Near Miss

• Civil Service Grades

• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer

• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Internal Fraud Database

• Appeals and Complaints

• Fixed Term Appointments for:

• External Candidates

• Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)

• Secondments

• MHCLG employees

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office:

London Office: + CTC

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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

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 : David Waterhouse
• Email : david.waterhouse@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:

a procedural irregularity

an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy

exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.

If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk