At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead planning strategy for a major housebuilder in Yorkshire and manage a small team.
- Company: Established housebuilder with a strong presence in the Yorkshire region.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a chance to influence regional planning.
- Other info: Opportunity to engage with local authorities and present to senior leadership.
- Why this job: Shape the future of housing in Yorkshire and make a real impact on community development.
- Qualifications: Extensive planning experience, ideally in residential projects, and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
A well-established Yorkshire division of a major housebuilder is looking for a Senior Planning Manager to lead its planning function. Reporting directly to the Land Director, this is the senior planning hire in the region — responsible for driving planning strategy across a live pipeline of immediate and strategic land, managing a small team of planners, and playing a visible role at board level.
THE ROLE — RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead all planning activity across the Yorkshire region — immediate consents, outline applications, and a long-term strategic land portfolio.
- Manage and develop a team of two town planners, setting workload priorities and quality standards.
- Oversee the preparation, submission, and negotiation of planning applications, S106 agreements, and pre-application discussions.
- Contribute to land acquisition decisions — appraising planning risk, identifying allocation opportunities, and supporting the Land Director in site selection.
- Engage directly with local planning authorities, consultants, and statutory bodies to progress consents.
- Monitor and influence emerging Local Plans, SPDs, and planning policy changes relevant to the region's land strategy.
- Present planning appraisals and updates to the regional board — owning the narrative on planning risk and programme.
- Work closely with the technical, land, and commercial teams to align planning programme with build and sales phasing.
- Support due diligence on potential acquisitions, including assessment of planning history, constraints, and deliverability.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Substantial planning experience gained on the developer or housebuilder side — candidates from consultancy will not be considered unless they have significant client-side or in-house experience.
- Strong track record in residential planning, ideally including both outline and detailed applications across mixed site types.
- Experience working across both immediate and strategic land — understanding the full pipeline lifecycle.
- Used to presenting to board or senior leadership — comfortable owning the planning narrative in a business context, not just a technical one.
- MRTPI qualified (preferred) or equivalent experience.
- Proven ability to manage and mentor junior planners.
- Strong negotiation skills — experienced in handling LPA relationships, S106 heads of terms, and appeal management.
- Commercially minded — able to translate planning risk into business language and contribute meaningfully to land appraisals.
- Development Manager profile also considered: Candidates with a Development Manager background will be considered where they can demonstrate deep, extensive planning expertise gained across the planning process — not project delivery. The emphasis must be on planning knowledge and strategy, not programme management or build-out.
Locations
Senior Planning Manager in Hampshire, Portsmouth employer: tdm recruitment
Join a leading housebuilder in Yorkshire that values innovation and collaboration, offering a dynamic work environment where your expertise as a Senior Planning Manager will directly influence the region's planning strategy. With a strong focus on employee development, you will have opportunities to mentor junior planners and engage with senior leadership, all while enjoying a supportive culture that prioritises work-life balance and community engagement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Planning Manager in Hampshire, Portsmouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals, attend local planning events, and engage in discussions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare a portfolio that highlights your successful planning projects and strategies. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, use this to demonstrate how you can drive their planning function forward.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to appear. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like us at StudySmarter, and express your interest in working with them. A little initiative can go a long way!
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by understanding the company’s current projects and challenges. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance of landing that Senior Planning Manager role!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Planning Manager in Hampshire, Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Senior Planning Manager role. Highlight your substantial planning experience, especially in residential planning and managing teams. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us about your experience with planning applications and your ability to engage with local authorities. Show us why you're the perfect fit for leading our planning function.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since you'll be managing a small team of planners, make sure to highlight your mentoring and management experience. We’re looking for someone who can set workload priorities and maintain quality standards, so let that shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at tdm recruitment
✨Know Your Planning Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your planning knowledge, especially around residential planning and the full pipeline lifecycle. Be ready to discuss your experience with both immediate consents and strategic land, as this will show you understand the role inside out.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since you'll be managing a small team of planners, it's crucial to highlight your mentoring and management experience. Prepare examples of how you've set workload priorities and maintained quality standards in previous roles.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
You’ll need strong negotiation skills for handling LPA relationships and S106 agreements. Think of specific instances where you successfully navigated complex negotiations and be ready to share those stories during the interview.
✨Present Like a Pro
As you'll be presenting to the regional board, practice articulating your planning appraisals clearly and confidently. Own the narrative on planning risk and programme, and ensure you can translate technical details into business language that resonates with senior leadership.
