Principal Planning Officer

The London Borough of Harrow is looking for a Principal Planning Officer to lead the preparation and management of planning performance agreements and pre-application discussions for strategic development proposals. The post holder will support the effective renewal and regeneration of the London Borough of Harrow. The successful candidate will manage a caseload of strategic planning applications delivering significant levels of investment within the Borough and make recommendations to Planning Committee.

The post holder will deliver an effective and appropriate service to all service users, fairly and without discrimination.

The successful candidate will have:

• A degree level or professional qualification in a relevant Town Planning discipline.
• Knowledge of current Development Management practices, procedures and legislation.
• ICT knowledge and aptitude.
• Use of specialist planning software.
• Recent experience of Development Management dealing with more complex planning applications and appeals.
• Experience of committee presentations.
• Experience of managing planning applications in project-managed environments.
• Demonstrative initiative in organising workload and establishing priorities for action and to carry out the necessary work to the required quality within given deadlines in the context of a busy working environment.
• The ability to obtain, record and process information in a manner which is technically, factually and grammatically accurate.
• Experience in preparing accurate and detailed reports on planning applications and statements and proofs of evidence on planning appeals.
• The ability to examine and assess information on planning applications and appeals and other planning matters and present a balanced analysis of competing issues.
• The ability to negotiate with applicants and developers in order to achieve improvements to the quality and outcome of planning applications.
• Experience in presenting information, verbally and in writing, on planning applications, appeals and other planning matters in a manner which clearly demonstrates a thorough, structured, logical and orderly approach.

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