Team: Planning Enforcement Job Family: Directing • CBG10 Salary: £38,476 to £40,069 per annum pro rata Hours: 37 Hours per week Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month. Contract Type: Hybrid • Permanent Closing Date: 6th September 2026 Interview Date: 16th September 2026 About the role We are seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Planning Enforcement Officer to join our team and play a key role in delivering Central Bedfordshire Council's Planning Enforcement Plan. This is an exciting opportunity to help ensure compliance with planning legislation and contribute to the effective and efficient operation of the Council's planning enforcement service. As a Planning Enforcement Officer, you will investigate alleged breaches of planning control, assess cases against relevant planning legislation, and determine the most appropriate course of action. You will manage a varied caseload, ensuring cases are progressed effectively and in line with agreed performance standards. Key responsibilities include: • Investigating complaints and determining whether breaches of planning control or planning conditions have occurred. • Monitoring compliance with enforcement notices, planning conditions, and other planning requirements. • Preparing and issuing formal enforcement notices, stop notices, and breach of condition notices. • Drafting reports and recommendations for planning committees and legal proceedings. • Working closely with legal services to initiate and support prosecutions where necessary. • Maintaining accurate, up-to-date case records, reports, and correspondence. • Providing regular updates to complainants, councillors, senior officers, and other stakeholders. • Presenting cases at planning committees, appeal hearings, public inquiries, and court proceedings as required. • Collaborating with colleagues across the Council, including Legal Services, Building Control, and Environmental Health, to deliver coordinated enforcement activity. • Engaging professionally with members of the public, developers, planning agents, elected members, and other external partners. • Attending internal and external meetings and contributing to corporate initiatives requiring joint enforcement action. ABOUT YOU To be successful in this role, you will have: • A strong working knowledge of UK planning legislation, particularly planning enforcement. • Experience of managing planning enforcement cases or undertaking similar regulatory or compliance-based work. • Excellent investigative, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills. • The ability to manage a diverse caseload, prioritise effectively, and work independently. • Experience of preparing evidence and presenting cases at hearings, inquiries, tribunals, or court proceedings. • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation. • The confidence to build positive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders while handling sensitive and complex situations professionally. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference to local communities by ensuring development takes place in accordance with planning law and approved permissions. If you are a proactive professional with a passion for planning enforcement and regulatory compliance, we would love to hear from you. Our Offer We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page [https://jobs.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/content/Our-rewards-and-benefits/?locale=en_GB] Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack. [https://centralbedfordshirecouncil.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/Communications/IgANjo4PncYyS7F_PBqtIENKAS-oEtmOy0afyH3cvwV4DlY?e=OdxqKc] Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance [https://centralbedfordshirecouncil.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/Communications/EuejD31meJ9GiiHyMPHL6V4BUJcaSc16Y3dGD4m8GxPfYA?e=Dg6Cg2] are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack. For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Rebecca Rousell at Rebecca.rousell@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk [Rebecca.rousell@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk] - 0300 300 6665 or James Clancy at James.Clancy2@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk [James.Clancy2@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk] - 0300 300 6418 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline. Your application to us is a reflection of who you are professionally and should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills, experiences and if applicable qualifications. Before you submit your application, we will ask you to confirm if you have used AI. All new starters will join us on a four‑month probationary period. During this time, if you are offered a Hybrid role you will be required to attend a Central Bedfordshire Council office location more frequently to support thorough and well‑supported onboarding into your role. Please keep this in mind if you anticipate extensive travel to Central Bedfordshire. Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered. Free information, advice and guidance into work or learning Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA) [https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bedfordshire-employment-and-skills-academy] provides free, impartial, information advice and guidance to those aged 16+ looking to get into work, learning or exploring a change of career.