About Us

Job Title: Development Viability Officer  

Salary Range: Linked Grade Scale 6 -PO1    £30,483 to £44,139 Depending on Skills and Experience

Full Time Permanent , 36 hours per week

Location: Home working and Offices based in Wandsworth and Richmond

Are you passionate about securing affordable housing to meet the need of local residents?

Are you eager to develop your knowledge of planning policy and affordable housing economic viability?

Could you apply your knowledge about planning and viability to develop opportunities to deliver affordable housing through planning?

Are you looking for working arrangements that enhance your work-life balance?

Do you want to join a positive and ambitious team?

If you answered yes, we want to hear from you.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Spatial Planning service for a new permanent Development Viability Officer. You will be part of a new viability arm of the Spatial Planning Team and work on viability matters relating to development coming forward in both Richmond and Wandsworth Boroughs, maximising opportunities for affordable housing delivery, particularly social rent, through the realm of planning. Both Councils have big ambitions to deliver genuinely affordable housing for local residents and there has never been a more challenging – or rewarding – time to work for both Richmond and Wandsworth. 

The delivery of affordable housing is a key priority for both Councils, with current and emerging policies seeking affordable housing contributions from all new residential development.

About the role:
 Working to the Principal Development Viability Officer, and supporting the Senior Development Viability Officer you will work on key planning aspects related to affordable housing, including securing financial contributions, and will liaise with the Planning service, the Council’s appointed external viability advisor and the Council’s Housing department. 

You will actively support the implementation and review of Local Plan policies and guidance on affordable housing and will also support the Council’s statutory planning functions by providing expert advice to case officers on planning applications in relation to affordable housing and in understanding viability matters. 

You will need to bring a good understanding of national, regional and local planning policy and associated legislative requirements and policy guidance. You will take a proactive approach to relevant changes in these, recommending revised procedures and practices and actioning the implementation of those revisions, with a particular focus on affordable housing and viability matters.

We welcome applications from planners and/or surveyors who have knowledge and background in planning and/or viability respectively, including from the public and/or private sector. 

Who are we
We are part of the Place Division and the Spatial Planning Service under the wider Chief Executive Directorate. We are positive and ambitious – when you join us, you’ll apply the same approach.  

You will: 

Providing support to senior officer on planning applications and in negotiations on affordable housing and viability matters.

Help create, and apply the Councils’ affordable housing planning policy and guidance and deliver successful planning outcomes. 

Work on providing specialist evidence for the Local Plan and viability matters. 

Build and develop strong working relationships inside the Planning service as well as with external partners.

Help to deliver a high quality, robust and transparent Spatial Planning service.

Ensure decision making within tight time frames and that the Spatial Planning service is recognised as delivering an excellent planning service for all of our customers. 

How to apply?

Please register and submit your CV and a supporting statement, addressing how you meet the requirements of this role. If you are having difficulty in applying online, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk.

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care more about how you work and what you achieve, rather than where you work on any given day. The difference you can make to our local communities is what really matters most to us, service delivery must always come first. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders, and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience. Agile working helps put the needs of our staff at the centre of everything we do, so if specific flexible working arrangements helps you with this, feel free to let us know.

Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work!

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including working from home, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you would like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline 

Closing Date:  Sunday 27^th October 2024 (23:59)

Shortlisting – W/C 28^th October 2024

Interviews – W/C  4^th November 2024 

 Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. 

 We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

  We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

 We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils