ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 11:55pm.

Please ensure that you read the full advert text and do not submit a CV, as these will be disregarded as they do not form part of SLC application process. If you require to submit additional information to support your application, please upload this under supporting documents.

INTERNAL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY VIA OPPORTUNITY MARKETPLACE.

Location: Council Offices, Almada Street, Hamilton, ML3 0AA

Hours: 35 hours per week

Work Pattern: Monday - Thursday 8:45am - 4:45pm and Friday 8:45am - 4:15pm

Salary: £37,702 - £38,779 annual salary

South Lanarkshire Council offers an exciting opportunity to work in one of the largest local authority areas in Scotland. The area combines strategic urban centres as well as a network of smaller rural towns and villages set within an extensive rural area that contains attractive landscape character and built heritage assets such as the New Lanark World Heritage Site. An opportunity has arisen in the Council's Planning Service for a Planning Assistant. The successful candidate will be responsible for a varied workload of applications in one of the Council’s Development Management Area Teams, responsible for;

Processing planning, advertisement, listed building and other statutory applications; monitoring development approvals and consents and unauthorised development; providing development advice to agents, developers and landowners;
Preparing and presenting the Council’s case at appeals, inquiries and hearings. Preparation of reports to Committees.
Contributing to the preparation of planning policies and strategies and contribution to the preparation and implementation of corporate and other Service strategies.
Liaising with other sections within the Service to provide information and assistance as required. Responding to requests for information and assistance, participate in discussions as appropriate. Provide information and advice on planning matters to members of the general public, community and other organisations, Elected Members, developers, development agencies and other services.

The successful applicant should be a recent planning graduate or someone with equivalent experience in a related field and hold an RTPI accredited planning degree or a degree in a related built environment discipline. For this role you will be expected to demonstrate the Person Specification criteria and role Framework Behaviours as contained within the job profile.

View the Planning Assistant job profile

Please answer the following questions as part of your application submission, your answers should be uploaded under supporting documents

What work and personal experience do you have which would make you the ideal candidate for this role?
Give an example of a situation where you have worked with others to achieve a specific goal or outcome. Explain your own role in the process.
What skills and experience do you have that demonstrate a customer focused approach to undertaking the role of a planning officer. Provide examples of when you have provided excellent customer service.

If you require to submit any further additional information to support your application (not a CV), please upload this under supporting documents.

Please Apply online - All correspondence will be via your email address

Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.

Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.

Overseas Criminal Records Check

An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of three months in the past 10 years.

Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.

Equal Opportunities and Inclusion statement

The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, from a military service background and from those who are new Scots.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile for this position.

As proud holders of the UK Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, the Council is also committed to supporting members of the armed forces community, including service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. In line with this commitment, service leavers, their close family members, veterans and reservists will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile.

As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:

Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
Up to 33 days annual leave
Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
Occupational sick pay
Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)

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