Local Authority (England and Wales, NJC) salary, 2026

Band-by-band ladder

Local authority conservation officers in England and Wales are paid on the NJC spinal column (2026/27 spine, settled by the Local Government Employers and trade-union side). The typical band for a Conservation Officer is SCP 23-28, for a Senior or Principal CO SCP 28-33, and for a Conservation Team Manager SCP 33-38.

The role splits two ways. A Planning Conservation Officer (heritage/Listed Buildings/Conservation Areas, S69-S72 duties under the Planning Listed Buildings Act 1990) typically sits SCP 26-33 in shire districts and SCP 30-38 in unitary or London boroughs. A Nature Conservation or Biodiversity Officer typically sits SCP 23-30 depending on Environment Act 2021 BNG-related responsibilities.

London weighting (NJC schedule 2026/27) adds £3,552 (Inner London) or £2,148 (Outer London) to the headline. The LGPS pension (defined benefit, 2024/25 employer rate c.21 percent) is a substantial uplift; on a £35,000 SCP 28 post that employer contribution is worth about £7,350/year of deferred income.

Questions this page answers

• What NJC SCP do local authority conservation officers typically sit on?
• How does a Planning Conservation Officer differ in pay from a Nature CO?
• Which councils pay top of NJC vs bottom of NJC for the same role?
• How does Inner/Outer London weighting change the headline?
• What is the LGPS pension worth as a cash-equivalent uplift?

See also

• Planning Conservation Officer
• Heritage Conservation Officer
• NJC spinal column 2026/27
• London weighting
• Take-home reckoner