This job is fixed term for 12 months.

About Us

Kirklees Council is a metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire. The district includes the thriving University town of Huddersfield and stunning Pennine countryside. Diverse towns and villages range from Dewsbury at the edge of Leeds to Holmfirth at the edge of the Peak District.

As one of the biggest planning authorities in the Leeds City Region we deal with around 4000 applications a year so you can expect variety and challenges all the time. With a wealth of listed buildings and conservation areas you would also have the opportunity to expand your conservation and design skills.

The Kirklees Local Plan was adopted in February 2019. This provides a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping the future of the district.

About you

We are looking for bright and enthusiastic candidates to join our busy development management and forward planning teams. So if you are a student currently in education or at the very end of your studies into Town Planning, and are keen to gain vital experience in the planning industry and the operation of local government, then we have a role for you. What is important is that you are a committed hard worker with a passion for planning and are keen to steer development through all the stages of the planning process from inception to implementation. 

About the Placement

The aim of the placement is to:

• assisting in the processing of planning, advertisement consent, listed building applications and other planning matters;

• Working within Planning Compliance (Enforcement) investigating breaches of planning control and taking enforcement action to regularise development where appropriate;

• undertaking site inspections and consultations within agreed targets, timescales and priorities; 

• responding to enquiries from applicants, agents and developers:

• advising on planning and related permissions and the procedures to be followed; 

• assist in helping to deliver development, particularly housing by supporting our discharge of condition process;

• with appropriate support; discussing, consulting  and negotiating on proposals;

• preparing reports and formulating recommendations on planning applications; and

• with support  assist with, or prepare, the Council’s written statements for planning and enforcement appeals or to initiate enforcement action against breaches of planning control;

• carrying out research and information;

• providing general technical support and undertaking miscellaneous duties as required

If you would like more information on this placement please contact one of the following officers:

Julia Steadman – Group Leader (Development Management) – 01484 221000 julia.steadman@kirklees.gov.uk  

Lee Stoney – Development Management Compliance Team Leader - 01484 221000 lee.stoney@kirklees.gov.uk  

To help us to short list candidates; we need to know a few things about you. It would be very helpful if you could complete the details below and add to it a short (no more than two pages of A4) written statement. In the statement we want to know things about you; what your career aspirations are and you how feel that this placement can help you achieve those goals.

In addition we would very much like to see an example of your work, preferably a short piece, which you think demonstrates your strengths in communicating in writing.