Green Access Development Officer

Develop your career in Active Travel!

Suffolk’s green access service is recruiting to its new planning team. The team leads the
council’s response to planning consultations, from minor ones to Nationally Significant
Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). The new team will build on our successes, for example, a £2.8m
pot to improve green access now the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station starts.

Green access includes 5,700km of public rights of way (PRoW), open access, and informal routes
to enable moving about on foot, bicycle, wheelchair, or horseback. It covers access to green
space but also relates to accessing services, workplaces, and schools, whether on PRoW or the
road network. Green access is especially relevant to sustainable transport, health, and
wellbeing.

Our vision is “To get more people using and enjoying Suffolk’s green access network.”

Your role and responsibilities

In this role, you will scope, negotiate, and deliver green access improvements where a planning
authority consults the county council on development proposals. You will lead the county
council’s responses to planning applications and consultations and we need someone who really
cares about improving green access and sustainable travel in Suffolk. You will attend important
planning meetings, build strategic partnerships, and make sure walking and cycling are
prioritised in new developments.

You will liaise with colleagues in the council’s planning teams, other planners, developers,
and stakeholders outside the council.

This role can improve lives by giving people more opportunities for healthy active travel. You
will need to see the bigger picture in creating those opportunities.

You will need:

• a good understanding of planning law and the impact of development on green access and PRoW
• strong team skills and very good communication skills, both written and verbal. You will be
  able to demonstrate a strong commitment to making walking, cycling and wheeling the first
  choice of travel, whether on roads or the green access network.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile. If you think you have
what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements,
please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

Our Rights of Way and Access team sits within the Growth, Highways, and Infrastructure
directorate. We oversee Suffolk’s green access and public rights of way network. Our priorities
are outlined in the Suffolk Green Access Strategy 2020-2030 vision, please take a look suffolk-green-access-strategy-2020-2030

Shaping Careers and Learning 

We want to champion talent and seek to continuously develop everyone’s professional knowledge,
potential and job satisfaction. Through accessible learning opportunities and clear career
pathways we aim to identify individual strengths, diversify skill sets and enable people, from
all walks of life, to build influential and impactful careers. 

Empowering Everyone 

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always
searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We
want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all
individuals, especially those from minority ethnic and minority sexual orientation groups.
These groups are currently underrepresented in this Directorate. 

To find out more:

Please contact Sam Bye, Planning Manager (Green Access) for a casual
conversation. You can reach them by calling (01473) 260429 or by
emailing: [email protected]. Or you can
contact Andrew Woodin, Development and Improvement Manager by
calling (01473) 264753 or by
emailing: [email protected]

Closing date: 11.30pm, 17 June 2024.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people
and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks
or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. We are also committed to flexible
working.

Suffolk County Council – welcoming diversity.