Are you looking to drive your career forward by working as part of a dynamic and rewarding team?

Here at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council we are seeking a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our Legal Services team as Principal Lawyer - Planning.  

We are a large, in-house legal team consisting of lawyers, paralegals and support staff providing legal advice to two local authorities (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hart District Council).  As a shared legal service, we advise across a range of areas of law including property, contracts, procurement, planning, litigation (civil and criminal), housing, licensing and governance.

What we’re looking for
We are looking for individuals who:

• Are a qualified, practicing Solicitor/Barrister/CILEX and have a proven track record of delivering high quality legal advice within, and a sound knowledge of, planning law;
• Are able to work as part of a team, be flexible and enthusiastic;
• Can demonstrate excellent communication skills and have the ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines; and
• Can demonstrate experience of dealing with high profile and/or complex planning matters.

General local government and/or public law experience gained through working in a local authority would also be beneficial, although not essential.

What you will do
As a Principal Lawyer - Planning, you will:

• manage a caseload of complex planning matters, including planning enforcement, s.106 agreements and advice work to elected members, committees and staff;
• provide high-quality professional legal services on planning matters, draft and review critical documents, advise at planning committee and provide support at planning appeals and inquiries;
• line manage one of the paralegals within the team, supporting their development and training;
• stay informed of legal developments in planning legislation, case law and policy, ensuring that your advice remains up to date.

About Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Covering an area of over 245 square miles in northern Hampshire and within a short distance to London Waterloo and the south coast, Basingstoke and Deane offers a real blend of rural and urban living.  With a population of 185,200 people, Basingstoke is a fast paced, vibrant, and modern town with many successful businesses, surrounded by pretty villages and set in the stunning Hampshire countryside. 

We are extremely lucky to be in a position that few other councils are in, as we continue to deliver our key front-line services and are going a step further by investing a significant amount of money each year to improve these services for our residents. Our 2022 resident satisfaction survey rate was an impressive 93% - a figure that has remained consistently high in recent years and well above the South East’s 74% average and the national 80% average.

Application
We are excited to learn more about you and what you can bring to our team.  If you have any questions about the role, feel free to email our Planning, Litigation and Governance Team Manager at emma.bethell@basingstoke.gov.uk

Please apply today!

Closing date: 13 March 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below