Planning Officer

This is a new role which 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 set up so far under the Countryside and
Rights of Way Act 2000. Our primary role is to promote to conservation and enhancement of the
natural beauty of the Chilterns AONB. Where it would be 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. In doing so,
we are required to have due regard to the needs of agriculture and forestry, the economic and
social interests of rural areas, and the protection against pollution of water, whether on the
surface or underground.

Influencing planning policies and decisions is a key means of achieving these objectives, and
CCB employs a small planning team, supported by a Planning Committee, for this purpose. The
Board has no specific planning powers and relies on engaging with policy- and decision-makers
and, principally, responding to consultations, in order to fulfil its role.

The team currently comprises two professional planners: our Head of Strategy and Planning and a
part-time consultant Planning Adviser. Casework is divided between planning policy and
development management (planning applications) respectively, with some overlap between.

The Chilterns AONB is under huge pressure from development and infrastructure projects, and we
have identified a need to increase our capacity to respond to changes in local and regional
planning policy at a time when the context for the management of this National Landscape is
also evolving. We are therefore seeking a qualified planning professional with practical
knowledge and experience of working with development plans, who can take on a large proportion
of our planning policy casework, focusing on statutory development plans and other plans and
strategies. This will also include transport and other infrastructure plans, with opportunities
to engage with a broad range of other casework types.

A demonstrable interest in landscape, natural beauty and both natural and cultural heritage
would be an advantage, as would experience of planning for transport, minerals and waste and/or
other infrastructure planning projects.

You will ideally be a chartered member of the RTPI, or similar, or working towards membership.
You will be both a team player and a self-starter who is able to work largely unsupervised. You
will have excellent written and presentation skills, strong attention to detail, and be able to
demonstrate a passion for and knowledge of the environment to bring added value to the CCB’s
work.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please
download the application form, together with the equal opportunities monitoring
form here.
Completed forms should be emailed to: [email protected] 

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday
27th September 2023.

Successful candidates will be invited to interview on Monday 9th or Thursday 12th October 2023.

Applicants must be willing to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with
past employers.

For further information or informal discussion please contact: [email protected].