We currently have a number of exciting opportunities in our Planning Team here at East Suffolk Council. We have a number of roles in our Development Management, Policy and Energy Projects teams and we would love to hear from you.
East Suffolk, with a population of a quarter of a million people, is a large and diverse district, ranging from the significant port towns of Felixstowe and Lowestoft, to picturesque market towns, stunning countryside and coastline.
There are ambitious plans for growth across the district, including the delivery of large scale new garden communities, regeneration of Lowestoft waterfront and the development of Freeport East, alongside a high number of nationally significant energy and infrastructure projects, such as the proposed Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station, interconnectors, various offshore wind farms and the Gull Wing crossing in Lowestoft. Working for East Suffolk Council, you will be involved in a wide range of planning issues, balancing growth demands while recognising the district’s special character and environment.
East Suffolk is at the forefront of the UK’s ambitious energy transition. To limit the future impacts of climate change, the Government has committed to the delivery of net zero carbon emissions in the UK by 2050. Consequently, this will result in a significant increase in the amount of electricity generation and transmission infrastructure both on and offshore, including Sizewell C. So, this is a really exciting time to join East Suffolk and help to positively shape the energy revolution taking place.
A large part of our current work is focused on implementing our two recently adopted Local Plans - the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan and the Waveney Local Plan. These set out our ambitions for growth across the district.
Our ambitious housing and infrastructure plans are led by a range of Strategic Sites across the district, specifically five new Garden Communities and a Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood. All of these deliver 800-2000 homes, new school, community infrastructure and substantial Green Infrastructure and have started progressing through their master-planning and planning application stages. A current example, which our Principal Planner (Major Sites) vacancy, will lead on is the North of Lowestoft Garden Village.
In addition to the new garden communities, the Local Plans plan for a number of further residential and employment developments, plus a whole host of other aims, such as enhancing and sustaining market towns, supporting rural areas and addressing coastal change.
We are proactive in preparing important guidance and strategies to support the implementation of our local plans. The recently adopted Cycling and Walking Strategy is an innovative approach to mapping our plans for cycling and walking infrastructure enhancements. A suite of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) is also under preparation, with recently adopted guidance including the Sustainable Construction SPD and the Affordable Housing SPD.
Becoming more digital is one of the council’s key corporate themes, and in the Planning service we are at the forefront of developing new ways to present and access our information. Our open data portal and the interactive summaries of our Authority Monitoring Reports are just two examples of this.
Looking ahead, we have exciting challenges on the horizon, not only with the continued implementation of our current plans but also with the Government’s proposed major changes to the national planning system.
We are a well-resourced and growing planning service, reflecting the recognised importance of planning to our communities, economy and environment. Alongside our Development Management, Planning Policy and Energy Projects teams, we have an excellent support team and have recently established a Specialist Services team which provides important in-house expertise on ecology, design, conservation, landscape, arboriculture and rights of way. We are committed to individual development and progression, and support individual development through both formal and informal training, while working alongside a large team of professionals.
The district is close to the large urban centres of both Norwich and Ipswich, with rail services providing access to the council’s offices by train. We might be 'on the edge' but we can be accessed easily from a wide area and offer flexible and remote working in a dynamic team.
If we can tempt you into opportunities to relocate to live and work in our fantastic part of the country, please take a look at what East Suffolk has for a quality of life: The Suffolk Coast - the holiday guide to the Suffolk Coast
Current opportunities to join the East Suffolk Council Planning team |