Our client is an ambitious, well-regarded SME housebuilder with a growing land portfolio spanning both immediate consented sites and longer-term strategic promotions. As the business scales its delivery pipeline, they are looking to appoint a Planning Manager who can take genuine ownership of applications from feasibility through to determination and beyond.
This is a hands-on role suited to someone who wants to be close to the detail — running their own sites, working directly with landowners, agents, and local planning authorities, and seeing schemes through rather than simply overseeing them from a distance.
The Role
- Manage a portfolio of live planning applications across the South East, from outline and reserved matters through to discharge of conditions
- Lead the preparation and submission of planning applications, working closely with external consultant teams (planning, highways, ecology, landscape, heritage)
- Take day-to-day responsibility for strategic land promotions, including site assessment, land agreements, and long-term planning strategy in the local plan process
- Represent the business at pre-application meetings, planning committees, and public consultation events
- Build and maintain relationships with local planning authorities, parish councils, ward members, and other key stakeholders
- Work closely with land, technical, and commercial teams to ensure planning strategy aligns with site viability and delivery timescales
- Monitor local plan reviews, call for sites processes, and emerging planning policy to identify new land opportunities
- Prepare and present planning appraisals and reports to the board as part of land acquisition decision-making
- Instruct, brief, and manage external consultants, holding them to programme and budget
- Support the appeals process where required, including liaison with planning counsel
About You
- Proven track record in planning gained either housebuilder, developer, or land promoter side, or from a relevant planning consultancy background with in-house exposure
- Genuine experience across both immediate (consented/near-term) sites and strategic land / long-term promotions — this is a dual requirement, not a preference
- Strong working knowledge of the planning system, local plan process, and the NPPF
- Confident managing multiple live applications simultaneously, with the organisation to prioritise across a varied portfolio
- Comfortable working hands-on and close to the detail — this is not a purely strategic or oversight position
- Strong relationship-building skills, with the credibility to engage effectively with LPAs, consultants, landowners, and agents
- Commercially minded, with an understanding of how planning strategy affects site viability and land value
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presenting to senior stakeholders
- A relevant degree (planning, geography, or similar) and RTPI membership (or working towards) would be advantageous but is not essential for the right candidate
- Full UK driving licence, with willingness to travel to sites and meetings as required
To apply for this job email your details to tom@tdm-recruitment.com.
