Planner / Senior Planner - Manchester (2026)

We are seeking a Planner or Senior Planner who shares our passion for shaping the most exciting projects across the UK. We are a nationally recognised, multi‑award‑winning Planning Consultancy and proud to have been named one of Property Week magazine’s ‘Best Places to Work in Property’.

Department: Planning

Location: Manchester

Are you a highly motivated individual eager to embark on a career in a thriving and independent staff‑owned planning and development consultancy?

Why Join Lichfields?

• Dynamic Environment: You will be at the forefront of advising major clients on a diverse range of projects, offering you a chance to take on significant responsibilities right from the start and make a real difference. These projects will be across a range of sectors and industries including major residential and commercial developments.
• Competitive Rewards: Your hard work and dedication will be well‑rewarded, both financially and in career growth. We offer a highly competitive salary and profit‑sharing bonus scheme for all staff.
• Supportive Culture: At Lichfields, we foster a supportive and collaborative culture where we take care of one another and have a busy calendar of staff and client social events.
• Flexibility and Inclusivity: We prioritise flexibility and work‑life balance and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, encouraging applicants from all backgrounds to apply. As part of the Government's Disability Confident Committed Employer scheme, we actively support candidates with disabilities.
• Professional Development: This is a multi‑faced role comprising various duties, including preparing planning applications and appeals; site appraisals; planning strategies; and development plan representations. You will provide advice and guidance on planning and land use to a variety of clients including leading developers, house‑builders and investment institutions as well as local planning authorities and other public or third‑sector organisations, throughout all stages of the planning process including Environmental Impact Assessments.

For those still working to become a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) within the Planning and Development field, we aim to accelerate your progress with the support of our dedicated MENTOR scheme.

Lichfields is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, marital status, or any other protected characteristics. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

We expect candidates to have at least a 2:1 or equivalent at first degree, ideally to have obtained a Master’s degree in RTPI/RICS accredited subjects, and have achieved, or be working towards, chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI). Candidates should also demonstrate good analytical, presentation, and writing skills, together with a clear commitment to working in the planning and property development field. The role will require working on a number of varied projects, so a proven ability to manage your own time, workload and problem‑solve is critical. Ideally, you will also be able to demonstrate the skills needed to market and innovate as these are important elements of this role.

How to apply

If you want to join Lichfields, please click ‘apply for this job online’ where you will need to upload your recent CV and a cover letter. Please provide full information about your education and professional qualifications, including attainment levels. If your application is successful, you will be invited for an interview at a time convenient to you. If you are inspired by what we stand for as a business, and seek to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to join our dedicated team at Lichfields!