Principal Planning Officer
MB3 (£51,356 - £58,165)
37 hours, Full-Time
Permanent
Hybrid: Stopford House and homeworking (minimum 2 days in the office each week)
Application Deadline: 11:59pm Tuesday 23rd June 2026
Please be aware that we may close this vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Shortlisting Date: 24th June 2026
Interview Date: Anticipated W/C 13th July 2026
Interview Type: Interview and Presentation
Join us at Stockport Council MJ Local Authority of the Year 2025
Shape Places. Influence Futures. Join an Award Winning Planning Team.
Are you ready to take the next step in your planning career? We’re expanding our highly regarded, award-winning planning team within Development Management and are looking for talented planners at all levels to join us.
This is an exciting opportunity to work on high-profile projects that genuinely shape communitiesfrom major regeneration schemes to innovative housing developments and sustainable place-making initiatives. You’ll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team that values collaboration, professional growth, and making a real difference.
Why join us?
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Be part of an award-winning planning team within the Local Authority of the Year 2025
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Work on challenging, meaningful projects with real community impact
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Enjoy a positive, inclusive and flexible working culture
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Access excellent training, mentoring and clear career progression pathways
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Join an ambitious, innovative team that is proud of what it delivers
Whether you’re an experienced planner looking to broaden your influence or an emerging professional ready to develop your expertise, we have a range of opportunities to suit your ambition.
Help us deliver great places - apply now and be part of something exceptional.
Your Role
As a Principal Planning Officer, you’ll play a key role in supporting the Area Team Manager and helping our Development Management service run smoothly. You’ll guide and support junior officers, share your expertise, and help create a positive, collaborative team environment.
Alongside this, you’ll manage your own caseload of complex or sensitive applications, using your planning judgement to deliver clear, timely and highquality decisions. You’ll work closely with colleagues, partners and residents, offering professional advice and helping us deliver development that genuinely benefits Stockport. It’s a role where your experience really matters and your contribution is genuinely valued.
About You
You’re someone who enjoys planning, people and problemsolving in equal measure. You’re a chartered RTPI member with extensive experience in Development Management, and you feel confident supporting and guiding lessexperienced officers. You communicate openly, build strong relationships and stay calm when things get busy. You’re comfortable handling complex applications, negotiating solutions and offering clear, balanced advice in a political environment. You enjoy helping others grow, spotting opportunities to improve how things are done, and working as part of a supportive team. Most importantly, you share our values, putting people first, working together and treating everyone with respect.
About Us
Stockport is a place full of ambition, community spirit and exciting change and our Development Management service is right at the heart of it. When you join us, you’ll be welcomed into a friendly, supportive team that genuinely cares about the work we do and the people we serve. We value fresh ideas, open conversations and a positive approach to challenges. You’ll work on a wide range of interesting projects, help shape the future of the borough and have plenty of opportunities to grow your skills. If you want to make a real difference and feel part of something meaningful, this is a great place to be.
At Stockport Council we are one ambitious team on a mission to create opportunities for everyone who lives, works and spends time in the borough. Working at Stockport Council means contributing to one of the most thriving towns in the North. We’re keen to recruit people with the right values and behaviours that can help us ensure our workplace values are at the heart of everything we do.
We are proud to be recognised under the Good Employment Charter as an organisation committed to the wellbeing of our colleagues. As members of the charter, we have been recognised as a great place to work for all colleagues and pledge to pay the real living wage, engage staff in key decisions and endorse fair and flexible working conditions.
If you would like to find out more about the role please contact Suzanne Broomhead at [email protected] for an informal discussion about the role.
This post is politically restricted under the terms of the 1989 Local Government and Housing Act. This dictates that you must seek the council’s permission before taking up any additional appointments or positions.
Stockport Council holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not currently qualify.
Please note that we have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers and ex-military personnel. As part of the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme you will therefore be guaranteed to be shortlisted for Assessment if you meet both the criteria for the scheme and the essential job role criteria.
Find out if you meet the criteria here: https://www.greater.jobs/our-guaranteed-assessment-scheme
If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application. Please also email [email protected].
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