England’s planning system is entering its most significant period of transformation in decades. From this January, a new three-gateway system is reshaping how local plans are developed and examined, with a streamlined 30-month timeline replacing processes that have stretched out over years. The scale of the challenge is substantial. With the government committed to delivering 1.5 million homes, robust local plans are essential for unlocking development. 

Success will require close collaboration between local authorities, government and the wider built environment sector. The next few years will test their collective capacity and resilience, but also offer the opportunity to build a more effective, responsive planning system that works better for everyone. By working together and learning from each other’s experiences, this transition can be successful. 

At the centre of this system sits the Planning Inspectorate: an executive agency, sponsored by the . The Inspectorate (known widely as ‘PINS’) deals with planning appeals, national infrastructure planning applications, examinations of local plans and other planning-related and specialist casework in England. 

The Inspectorate comprises around 900 staff across five service areas. It conducts independent examinations that determine whether local plans are legally compliant and sound. PINS has a base in Bristol but its staff are located all across England. 

A workforce expansion with purpose 

PINS is responding to the reform agenda strategically by investing in a workforce for the future and has committed to doubling its local plans inspection capacity. This represents one of the largest recruitment drives in the organisation’s recent history, with 24 new inspector positions on offer. The hope is that this ‘injection’ of sector expertise and diverse perspectives will positively influence the local plans environment for a generation. The recruitment is a welcome boost to a sector that is seeking clarity and pace. 

Simon Berkeley, a senior inspector and Professional Lead for Local Plans at the Planning Inspectorate, frames the context: “The Planning Inspectorate has been around for quite a long time, standing as a pillar of the planning process, the planning community, for over 100 years. What it looks like these days is rather different of course, but our role in providing independent scrutiny remains central. And within that, the Planning Inspector role is unique – genuinely independent and answerable directly to the Secretary of State. There isn’t another role quite like it. ” 

Fresh perspectives for a new system 

The new local plans system, introduced by MHCLG with a novel three-gateway system offers a streamlined approach, but also, a subtle evolution to the traditional inspector role. The second gateway that inspectors undertake with the local authority precedes the formal examination, and offers the opportunity for inspectors to work with local authorities to shape and guide the plan through its final development stages, a new dimension and one where the 2026 intake of inspectors will be on ‘level pegging’ with experienced inspectors.  

This is a perspective very much endorsed by Andrew Megginson, Head of Plans Examination at the Planning Inspectorate: ‘What’s interesting for me about this recruitment campaign is that as new recruits, you’d be joining the Planning Inspectorate at a crucial time when we’re all changing the way we work. So, all of our inspectors are ‘retraining’ in terms of the new gateways – what a gateway looks like and how you conduct each gateway. We will all be learning together and we expect these new recruits to bring a ‘blast’ of fresh energy and a vital diversity of perspective to local planning: regional, professional and personal’. We believe it’s exactly what is needed – what the whole built environment eco-system needs- at this time of change. ‘  


Beyond planning qualifications 

What distinguishes this recruitment is not just its scale but its explicit welcome to professionals from across the built environment—not just traditional planners. 

This makes perfect sense to Paul Griffiths, a planning inspector for over 20 years, as he originally trained as an architect before joining the Inspectorate. “I’m not a planner,” he explains. “I trained as an architect and found myself working with historic buildings, spent a lot of time talking to conservation officers and urban design officers at local authorities and got a fancy for that sort of work, wondered what it would be like working on the other side of the fence. It was the best thing I ever did ” 

The logic is straightforward: local plan examinations require assessment of housing allocations, infrastructure delivery, design quality, heritage impact, transport implications, and development viability. Professionals who understand these elements from practice bring essential perspective to the examination process. For experienced built environment professionals considering what comes next in their careers, the timing is notable. The planning system is being reformed, the inspection workforce is expanding significantly, and the Inspectorate is actively seeking diverse professional perspectives. Voices across the spectrum agree that the next few years are pivotal in the built environment space. This is a rare opportunity for a select group of professionals to shape that change. 

Starting salaries are £63,859 (Band 2) and £77,741 (Band 3), with a 28.97% employer pension contribution. Applications for planning inspector roles close on 22 February 2026. A recording of a Q&A session with the local plans team is available for those wanting to learn more before applying. 

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