Planning assistant

Planning Assistant - Temporary | Belfast City Council

Adelaide Street, Belfast City Centre BT2 8GD (with site visits across Belfast)

-13.45 per hour (PAYE)

37 hours per week (office-based during training, then 3 days in the office and 2 from home)

Starting Monday 2 November 2026

Hatched Recruitment Group is recruiting a Planning Assistant to join Belfast City Council''s Planning Service. This is an excellent opportunity for a planning student to gain real-world experience supporting planning officers on live applications across the city. No previous experience is needed.

What you''ll be doing:

• Helping process planning applications and cases where planning rules may have been breached
• Assisting with reports and recommendations, working with the Senior Planning Officer
• Answering planning enquiries from the public in person, by phone and by email
• Carrying out site visits across Belfast to record site information
• Researching planning histories and other planning matters
• Supporting the business support team with validation, consultation and publicity
• Assisting with studies for Belfast''s new development plan

What you''ll need:

• To be studying for a relevant third-level qualification, such as Planning and Property Development, or equivalent
• A full driving licence valid in Northern Ireland and a car available for work (you''ll make site visits across Belfast)
• A good understanding of, and interest in, the planning field
• Strong customer care and communication skills, both written and spoken
• Good IT skills, including Word, Excel and databases
• Good organisation, accuracy and attention to detail

What''s on offer:

• -13.45 per hour, paid weekly
• Hybrid working after your initial training
• Valuable experience to kick-start a career in planning
• Holiday pay accrued in line with statutory entitlemnt
• Pension auto-enrolment (subject to eligibility)

You must be eligible to work in the UK and able to provide your driving licence at application stage.

Interested? Send your CV - Early applications are encouraged.