Affordable Housing Enabling Officer
Richmond and Wandsworth Councils
London, UK
Published today
Full Time
About Us
Job Title: Affordable Housing Enabling Officer
Salary Range: £48,873 to £59,220 per annum
Permanent - Fulltime (36hours per week)
Location: Wandsworth
Are you interested in joining an ambitious team working to secure social and affordable homes for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils?
Could you bring knowledge about housing, planning and viability together to develop opportunities to deliver more affordable homes?
If you answer yes, then the post we're seeking to fill could be for you.
Working with planning services, landowners, developers, registered providers and other charitable housing organisations your focus will be to increase social and affordable housing delivery through partnership working, applying housing and planning policies and your own knowledge and experience. Additionally, you will work closely with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to identify and secure grant funding for permanent and temporary accommodation.
About the role
You will work independently on key aspects of affordable housing delivery, including providing advice and assistance to the planning service, landowners, developers and housing providers to secure and increase affordable housing delivery.
You will represent the borough, acting as a contact in negotiations with developers, landowners and other agencies, such as the Greater London Authority (GLA) at external meetings, as well as providing expert advice for enabling affordable housing on development sites in the borough as well as negotiating with key funding organisations such as the GLA and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to support affordable housing delivery.
In addition, you will also be the key contact for external agencies and Councillors in dealing with issues pertaining to affordable housing and providers.
You will have a good understanding of national, regional, and local planning policy and associated legislative requirements and funding guidance and have a good understanding of viability matters.
While the role is based within the Better Service Partnership, covering both Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, it will involve mainly working on Richmond's delivery of affordable housing but with an opportunity to also work on Wandsworth schemes. You will also provide reports and briefings for senior officers and Members on affordable housing matters.
We welcome applications from individuals from the public and/or private sector who have knowledge and background in planning and/or housing including knowledge of how financial viability impacts on delivery of affordable housing.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Useful Information
Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership 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
Job Title: Affordable Housing Enabling Officer
Salary Range: £48,873 to £59,220 per annum
Permanent - Fulltime (36hours per week)
Location: Wandsworth
Are you interested in joining an ambitious team working to secure social and affordable homes for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils?
Could you bring knowledge about housing, planning and viability together to develop opportunities to deliver more affordable homes?
If you answer yes, then the post we're seeking to fill could be for you.
Working with planning services, landowners, developers, registered providers and other charitable housing organisations your focus will be to increase social and affordable housing delivery through partnership working, applying housing and planning policies and your own knowledge and experience. Additionally, you will work closely with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to identify and secure grant funding for permanent and temporary accommodation.
About the role
You will work independently on key aspects of affordable housing delivery, including providing advice and assistance to the planning service, landowners, developers and housing providers to secure and increase affordable housing delivery.
You will represent the borough, acting as a contact in negotiations with developers, landowners and other agencies, such as the Greater London Authority (GLA) at external meetings, as well as providing expert advice for enabling affordable housing on development sites in the borough as well as negotiating with key funding organisations such as the GLA and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to support affordable housing delivery.
In addition, you will also be the key contact for external agencies and Councillors in dealing with issues pertaining to affordable housing and providers.
You will have a good understanding of national, regional, and local planning policy and associated legislative requirements and funding guidance and have a good understanding of viability matters.
While the role is based within the Better Service Partnership, covering both Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, it will involve mainly working on Richmond's delivery of affordable housing but with an opportunity to also work on Wandsworth schemes. You will also provide reports and briefings for senior officers and Members on affordable housing matters.
We welcome applications from individuals from the public and/or private sector who have knowledge and background in planning and/or housing including knowledge of how financial viability impacts on delivery of affordable housing.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience
- Sound knowledge of the development of affordable housing
- Understanding of economic appraisal processes in the development of affordable housing
- Ability to work with external agencies and senior colleagues in other Departments in the development of affordable housing projects
- Knowledge of Section 106 Legal Agreements and Nomination Agreements
- Closing Date: Sunday 07th December 2025
- Shortlisting: Week commencing 08th December 2025
- Interview Date: To be confirmed
Useful Information
Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership 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