About the Role
We are looking to appoint a Senior/Principal Planner (Career Grade) within our Planning Strategy service, as part of a small team to work alongside an existing Planner, Principal Planner and Team Leader. The post is career-graded so whether you want to bring your experience to Fareham, or are looking for your next career progression, we’d love to hear from you.
The Council will shortly be embarking on the exciting process of reviewing its Local Plan (adopted April 2023). We can therefore offer you the opportunity to get involved in all aspects and stages of local plan preparation from the outset, set within the context of a changing plan preparation process including the new 30 months’ timescale. You will be joining us at a time when the Council is embarking on early engagement and consultation to inform spatial strategy options to meet challenging housing requirements, undertake a ‘call for sites’ processes and sustainability appraisal scoping and engaging with our communities and stakeholders alike. You will have the opportunity to make a big difference in how we work and inform the future place making of the borough and depending on experience, assume responsibility for and manage some key projects as the Council works towards Regulation 18 consultation stages.
In this time of a changing national planning framework, you will also help to ensure the authority is best placed to meet the challenges and the likely implications it will have on the Borough. The Council has been at the forefront of developing policy approaches and solutions to complex environmental issues and this post provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to that work including working with developers and landowners on the practical implementation of environmental solutions.
The role will also give you the opportunity to work with councillors and take a lead role in public engagement as we review the Plan. The team also works closely with development management planners to advise on the interpretation of policy as we strive to secure high quality, sustainable development within the Borough. You will play a substantial part in us achieving this.
About you
We are looking for an enthusiastic person keen to progress their career, to join our organisation and play a key role in shaping the future of the borough. You will have an opportunity to really make your mark on policy development.
You will have experience of working in a planning strategy environment. You will either hold a qualification in Town Planning related discipline and be eligible for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute or be keen to undertake study with the support of the council, enabling you to work towards membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
The team culture is that individuals take ownership and responsibility for their workload, so excellent communication skills, initiative and the ability to work under pressure are essential.
About us
Fareham Borough Council has a highly diverse character. It contains a number of urban settlements of varying size with many surrounded by countryside. The Meon Valley runs north-south through the centre of the Borough with the River Hamble marking the western edge of the Borough. Much of the southern edge of the Borough adjoins The Solent, a world class maritime environment, rich in habitat sites of national and international importance.
Fareham also has a rich history, with thirteen Conservation Areas, along with approximately 600 listed buildings. The Town of Fareham contains a well preserved Georgian High Street with the village of Titchfield developed around a medieval core and medieval Abbey.
Notwithstanding the modest area of the Borough, there are a number of extensive and exciting development opportunities. The northern part of the Borough contains the entirety of the Welborne Garden Village one of the largest housing led developments along the south coast. Delivery of housing has commenced along with substantial infrastructure improvements such as a new motorway junction. The site will ultimately provide for up to 6,000 dwellings, 105,000 square metres of employment floorspace and extensive supporting retail and community uses.
The southern edge of the Borough contains the historic Daedalus airfield which has been in aviation use for in excess of 100 years. As well as continuing as an active airfield, the site (which is within the Council’s ownership) is allocated for extensive employment floorspace (circa 80,000 square metres).
The Council is also progressing with the regeneration of Fareham Town Centre as a high corporate priority, having purchased the shopping centre in 2023.
Benefits of working for us
We are keen to enable those working for us to be individually empowered to do their job. This role will not only do this but will also provide an opportunity to gain broader experience in a wide range of development projects and to gain management experience.
In addition to this the Council offers the following employee benefits:
Hybrid (office/ home) and flexible working opportunities Flexible working hours scheme An annual leave entitlement of 28 days for candidates with more than 5 years local government experience. In addition to this, you will be entitled to up to three additional days leave between Christmas and New Year. Ability to purchase 5 days of additional leave per year Authorised car parking Employee discountsFor more information please contact:
Pete Drake, Team Leader (Planning Strategy) pdrake@fareham.gov.uk)
