Deputy Head of Planning

Knowsley Council is an award-winning Local Authority, that is unashamedly ambitious and was named Local Authority of the Year in the Municipal Journal Awards 2024. Knowsley Council is financially sound and has been able to set a balanced, investment led budget consecutively for the last 5 years.’ Come join us and be part of our success.

The Government’s ambition alongside Knowsley’s commitment to economic growth and housing delivery makes this an exciting time to further your career in town planning here in Knowsley.

Knowsley is about to embark on the second phase of its journey to deliver a sustainable future for the Borough.

Knowsley has an enviable track record of delivery.  As a consequence of our development activity over the last decade the Borough’s population has increased by 9% and there are approximately 1,000 new businesses which has been fuelled by the adoption of our Local Plan in 2016. . Despite our last local plan only being adopted 8 yrs ago we are to commence a new local plan later this year which will be equally as ambitious as our last one.

The next phase of our growth will include the delivery of a £200m regeneration of Huyton town centre (including a new council HQ), the continued development and expansion of   Halewood, Kirkby and Prescot Town Centres and the identification and delivery of new housing and employment sites across Knowsley.

As Deputy Head of Planning you will work closely with the Head of Planning in leading the Council’s response to the recently updated NPPF [National Planning Policy Framework]and will have experience of preparing a successfully adopted local plan.

If you have significant experience in town planning ideally within a local authority setting in the UK, (although this is not essential) together with a demonstrable track record of successfully delivering a local plan and a thorough understanding of Development Management and wish to be involved in all aspects of planning then this role is perfect for you.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a hardworking and friendly team in a supportive environment. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate their excellent communication skills and experience of managing a high performing teams that delivers.

The role is open to hybrid working with two set office based days per week (currently Thursdays and Fridays) in the modern setting of Huyton Library.

We promote applications from all sections of the community, regardless of background, belief, or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their underrepresentation in our workforce.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applicants.

At Knowsley we value our applicants and want them to feel well-informed and welcomed. If you have any questions about this specific job role or what it is like to work at Knowsley, please contact: 

Alan Kilroe; alan.kilroe@knowsley.gov.uk, 0151 443 2315

Tony Clark; tony.clark@knowsley.gov.uk, 0151 443 2206