Planning Officer

About the Role

This is a role that provides a rare and exciting opportunity to join a multi-disciplinary team working in one of the country’s finest and most accessible protected landscapes.

The Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB) is a statutory body established by Parliamentary Order in 2004. It is one of only two Conservation Boards in the country set up under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Our primary role is to promote the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the Chilterns AONB, now known as the Chilterns National Landscape. Where it is compatible with that role, we also promote the understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities, and in partnership with others seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities.

As a key member of the planning team, you will have a lead role in supporting the CCB’s activities in furthering the conservation and enhancement of the Chilterns National Landscape by ensuring that planning policies that apply to the Chilterns region take full account of the special qualities of the landscape.

We are seeking a planning or related professional with experience of analysing and commenting on development plans and similar strategies, and a demonstrable interest in protected landscapes. You will be a strategic thinker with an eye for detail, and a strong communicator willing and able to represent the Board’s positions at examination hearings and inquiries.

This is a politically restricted position.

Role Purpose

You will be responsible for ensuring that the purpose of the National Landscape designation – conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the protected landscape – is at the heart of development plans and other land use and infrastructure strategies affecting the area.

Key to the role will be providing advice and guidance to members and officers of the Board and key stakeholders, as well as effectively communicating the Board’s advice, views and guidance to the relevant planning authorities, Natural England, the Government and other relevant bodies to ensure fulfilment of their statutory duty with regard to the National Landscape as set out under s85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Priorities will include supporting the planning function in the Chilterns National Landscape through advice, particularly on planning policy matters, preparing and coordinating responses to consultations, under the supervision of the Head of Strategy and Planning and oversight from the Planning Committee. The role will also include involvement with neighbourhood planning, development management and other land use regimes.

Working closely with the Head of Strategy and Planning, the Planning Adviser and the Planning Committee, you will help develop and disseminate the Board’s planning positions to local authorities, landowners, developers, members of the public and government departments and agencies. In doing so, you will need to build relationships with other expert officers within the Chilterns National Landscape team, and representatives of our stakeholders, including volunteers.

Key Accountabilities

• Support the planning function through advice on planning policy matters and the CCB’s statutory purposes, National Landscape designation and objectives of the Management Plan.
• Prepare and, where appropriate, coordinate responses to consultations on planning policy matters, in line with the Board’s principles, priorities and positions.
• Support the effective operation of the Board and its Planning Committee, to provide advice to them and other groups as required, including helping to advise the Board and its Planning Committee on the need for changes to its own planning policies, position statements and guidance.
• Liaise with local authorities, town and parish councils and relevant regional and national bodies to maximise opportunities for the Board to be consulted on planning policy casework and to promote appropriate policies and proposals for incorporation into the policies and proposals of those bodies to support the aims of the Board and purposes of the designation, including giving evidence at examinations and inquiries.
• Maintain records of responses to consultations and their impact and effectiveness, using this information to help monitor compliance of local authorities and other relevant stakeholders with their statutory duty in relation to the National Landscape.
• Liaise on planning casework with other bodies including Natural England, Historic England, parish councils, other National Landscape teams and with environmental stakeholders including the Chiltern Society, CPRE groups and Wildlife Trusts, on planning policy issues of relevance to National Landscapes, including identifying and advocating best practice, relevant planning examination outcomes and case law.
• Support the production and presentation of papers, briefing notes, press releases, articles, guidance documents, including taking a lead role on relevant publications as necessary.
• Support the provision of training on planning issues to the Chilterns National Landscape team, including Board members and staff, and to constituent local planning authorities and town and parish councils.