Planner (MRTPI)

Within this role, you will focus on providing planning advice within our priority areas (residential, public sector, education, commercial/industrial, and retail/leisure), supporting the team’s Business Plan to develop our client portfolio and increase revenue. You will work closely with clients and senior colleagues, developing relationships and ensuring professional, accurate advice is delivered within set deadlines for specific projects.

Cushman & Wakefield is looking for a Planner to join our Land, Development & Planning team in Birmingham. Our team provides strategic planning and development advice to public and private sector clients, helping them maximise the potential of land and buildings. We are currently advising a diverse client base including banking, government clients, and investors. This is an opportunity for a chartered or near-chartered Planner to take responsibility for their own instructions, work alongside senior colleagues on major projects and develop their client and commercial experience. You will manage planning projects from initial advice through to submission and determination, while building relationships with clients, local authorities and other consultants. As you develop in the role, you will also be expected to grow your internal and external network, identify new business opportunities and work with colleagues across Cushman & Wakefield to introduce clients to our wider real estate services.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit planning applications, including Planning Statements and supporting documentation.
• Prepare and manage planning appeals.
• Manage planning instructions and projects on a day-to-day basis.
• Provide clear planning advice directly to clients.
• Undertake planning policy, site and development research.
• Liaise and negotiate with local planning authorities and other stakeholders.
• Attend client meetings, site visits and project meetings.
• Attend public consultation events and planning committee meetings where required.
• Support senior colleagues on large-scale and complex planning applications and appeals.
• Coordinate with other professional disciplines and project consultants.
• Manage existing client relationships and help identify opportunities for further work.
• Develop relationships across the Midlands property market.
• Work with other Cushman & Wakefield teams to identify cross-selling opportunities.

About You

You will have broad planning experience and the technical ability to manage smaller planning instructions independently, while contributing to larger and more complex projects. You should be commercially minded, confident dealing directly with clients and interested in developing your network and career within the wider real estate sector. We are looking for:

• Around 2–3+ years' planning experience, ideally within consultancy or a similarly commercial environment.
• MRTPI qualification, or someone close to achieving chartered status.
• Ideally 1+ years' post-MRTPI experience.
• An RTPI-accredited degree, ideally achieved at 2:1 or above.
• Experience preparing and managing planning applications and appeals.
• Experience managing projects and dealing directly with clients.
• Good knowledge of the Birmingham and wider Midlands planning and development market.
• Strong written, report-writing and verbal communication skills.
• An understanding of business development and client relationship management.
• Commercial awareness and an interest in the wider property and development market.
• The confidence to analyse issues, provide solutions and take responsibility for your own workload.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• An ambitious and proactive approach, with an interest in taking on greater responsibility as your career develops.
• A full driving licence.
• Unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Why Cushman & Wakefield?

You’ll join an established Land, Development & Planning team working on projects for major public and private sector clients, while benefiting from the wider expertise and client base of one of the world's leading real estate businesses. The role offers exposure to a broad range of planning and development work, direct client responsibility and the opportunity to build your profile within the Birmingham and Midlands market.