Principal Planning Solicitor

Salary: £54,231 - £57,678

Hours per week: 37 hours 

Interview date: week commencing 10 February 2025

Legal - Shaping our Communities Future

Are you looking to have a significant impact within an innovative and forward-thinking in-house legal service that values your professional and personal commitments? 

We're thrilled to present an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Solicitor to join our accomplished and supportive in-house Legal team as a Principal Planning Solicitor. 

This is an exciting role to work closely with officers and members of Wiltshire Council. As a Principal Solicitor you will be the technical specialist in your field, providing support to the local planning authority to inform local planning policy and play a pivotal role in shaping the Wiltshire community for years to come. You will also provide strategic legal advice on the Council’s planning permissions and on a diverse range of routine and complex planning and highways-related issues, including transactions and agreements. You will lead a small team, managing and coordinating the high-quality delivery of planning-related legal support. While your main office is County Hall in Trowbridge regular office attendance is encouraged to foster collaboration and team development, we also encourage flexible and hybrid working to further enhance service delivery.

Our ideal candidate will have a minimum of eight years post qualification experience practicing law, five of which must have been practicing in the relevant area of law. Specialist knowledge of Planning law, as well as local government legal knowledge will be essential for success in this role. Additionally, previous line-management experience would be beneficial, but is not essential.

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. That’s why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right. 

The council is committed to creating an environment of positive working relationships where everyone feels engaged, supported and able to thrive. Our Identity is a framework which sets out how we are all expected to lead, work and act to deliver our services. We will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment of any kind. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect which is underpinned by our vision and Our Identity framework.

Please contact Hayleigh Freestone, Recruitment Specialist, at Hayleigh.Freestone@wiltshire.gov.uk for more details or for a copy of the role description and person specification.

This role may be subject to certain successful security checks; please see the role description for more information.

We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services.