The government’s Planning Inspectorate has announced it is now open to applications for local planners, describing this as one of the “largest” recruitment drives in years.

This will see the department recruit inspectors at both Band 2 and 3 levels, seeking experienced professionals in an application window due to close on 22nd February.

The salary brackets will be set at £63,859 and £77,741 for Band 2 and 3 inspectors, respectively.

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This recruitment push is part of wider efforts from the government to introduce new local plan making processes at the end of the year, which aim to cut time taken on local plans down to five months.

“The new local plan making process goes live after 31 December 2026, and so councils are rushing to submit plans for review under the current system,” said Richard Beresford, CEO at the NFB.

“It is therefore welcomed news to see the government continue its commitment to enabling planning reform with a hiring push on local plan assessors in order to drive through comprehensive local plan coverage.”