Senior Planning Officer - Major Projects

Guildford Borough Council

Location: Millmead House, Guildford, GU2 4BB

Contract: Temporary

Start Date: 3 August 2026

End Date: 29 January 2027

Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00

Hybrid Working: Office attendance ideally one day per week, preferably Wednesday.

Guildford Borough Council is seeking an experienced Major Projects Planning Officer to join its Planning Team.

As a senior member of the team, you will manage, assess and negotiate strategic, major and complex planning applications from pre-application through to determination. Many applications will be managed under Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs), requiring effective project management, negotiation and stakeholder engagement throughout the planning process.

You will prepare robust reports for Planning Committee, negotiate Section 106 Agreements and provide professional planning advice to Members, developers, applicants and other stakeholders. The role also includes involvement in pre-application discussions, helping to shape development proposals before submission.

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• Manage strategic, major and complex planning applications.
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• Lead Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) applications from pre-application through to determination.
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• Negotiate planning obligations, including Section 106 Agreements.
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• Prepare reports and recommendations for Planning Committee.
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• Present applications to Planning Committee and respond to Member questions.
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• Attend site visits and Member briefings where required.
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• Liaise with applicants, developers, agents, elected Members, consultees and internal departments.
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• Ensure applications are progressed in accordance with planning legislation, policy and statutory requirements.
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To be considered, you will have:

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• Experience managing major and complex planning applications.
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• Experience negotiating Section 106 Agreements.
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• Experience preparing Planning Committee reports.
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• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
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• The ability to exercise sound professional judgement on complex planning matters.
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• A proactive and organised approach to managing competing priorities.
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This role is offered on a PAYE basis.

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• Basic PAYE rate:£52.50 per hour
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• Accrued holiday pay (paid separately):£6.34 per hour
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• Total hourly value:£58.84 per hour
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After 12 completed weeks in the assignment, your holiday entitlement increases.

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• Basic PAYE rate:£52.50 per hour
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• Accrued holiday pay after AWR:£9.19 per hour
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• Total hourly value after AWR:£61.69 per hour
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PAYE also includes enrolment into the workplace pension scheme (subject to eligibility).

If you are an experienced Planning Officer with expertise in managing major development applications and are available for a temporary assignment with Guildford Borough Council, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Please Note: This position is offered on a PAYE basis only. The advertised hourly rate is the basic PAYE rate, with accrued holiday pay paid in addition All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory referencing, Right to Work checks and any other pre-employment checks required by Guildford Borough Council.

E-Personnel Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy and as an Employment Agency for permanent recruitment. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.