Planning Technical Support Officer

You will be joining an organisation whose work is helping to shape the future of one of London’s most iconic places. The Oxford Street Development Corporation has been established to lead the long-term regeneration and transformation of Oxford Street and its surrounding area to deliver a world-class public realm and safer, cleaner streets, and to supporting high-quality development, culture and economic activity that keeps the area thriving. Our OSDC Board is setting out the strategic direction of the organisation and brings diverse insight and cross-sector expertise including retail, property, leisure, fashion, music, theatre, media, law and politics. Your will be joining a rapidly growing organisation fully dedicated to restore Oxford Street to its former glory and to shape its exciting next chapter.

About the role

To assist the Planning Technical Support function in the Oxford Street Development Corporation’s Planning Unit, ensuring the delivery of an efficient, high-quality planning support and validation service. This role will carry out all administrative procedures relating to the receipt, validation and processing of planning applications including strategic majors, pre-applications, enforcement and appeal cases.

You will maintain excellent customer service, legislative compliance, and provide valuable technical advice to stakeholders, while supporting the integrity and performance of planning systems and datasets.

You will play a key role in helping to establish a new Local Planning Authority, contributing to innovative, digitally-enabled planning processes from the ground up and supporting the continuous improvement of end-to-end planning services.

What your day will look like

• Validating a wide range of planning applications, including strategic major schemes, ensuring compliance with statutory and local requirements
• Managing planning case administration from submission through to decision, including consultations and issuing documentation
• Supporting the coordination of planning appeals and enforcement cases, ensuring deadlines and procedural requirements are met
• Maintaining and updating the statutory planning register and associated records
• Responding to enquiries from applicants, agents and members of the public, providing clear and professional advice
• Processing planning fees and supporting financial administration, including resolving queries and liaising with finance colleagues
• Supporting Planning Committee and stakeholder meetings, including preparation and administrative coordination
• Contributing to improvements in planning processes, systems and digital tools to enhance service delivery

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Experience working with planning systems or similar case management systems
• Strong understanding of planning processes, including validation requirements and development management
• Experience supporting or administering planning enforcement cases and/or planning appeals, including understanding of statutory processes and timescales
• Experience of working in a local authority, development corporation or similar planning environment
• Ability to manage workloads effectively and work to tight deadlines with high accuracy
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage with a range of stakeholders

Behavioural Competencies

Decision Making

…is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

• Takes personal responsibility for own decisions
• Makes straightforward decisions to progress own work
• Asks others for input, recognising the benefit of more than one perspective
• Understands which decisions are within own area of responsibility and which to pass to others
• Understands the risks associated with decisions, informing others of these risks

Planning and Organising

… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

• Plans and prioritises own workload to meet agreed deadlines
• Advises colleagues or manager early of obstacles to work delivery
• Perseveres and follows work through to completion
• Checks for errors to ensure work is delivered to a high standard first time
• Effectively juggles priorities

Responding to Pressure and Change

… is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.

Level 1 indicators of effective performance

• Stays calm in pressurised and demanding situations
• Responds flexibly to changing circumstances
• Recognises when unable to cope and asks others for help
• Demonstrates openness to changing work priorities and deadlines
• Maintains personal well-being and achieves a balance between work and home life

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

This role is based in London on Wells Street.

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345)

As part of OSDC’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination. 

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Chris Davis would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at [email protected].

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the [email protected] who support the GLA with recruitment.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: w/c 11 May 2026 (may be subject to change)

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. 

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits

OSDC staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

More Support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact [email protected].