Planning Manager

Location: Cambridgeshire

Working pattern: 4 days office-based / 1 day remote

Salary: £55,000–£70,000 + bonus + car allowance, depending on experience

About the Role

We are working with an established and growing housebuilder in Cambridgeshire who are looking to appoint a Planning Manager to join their team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional to take a key role within a growing business, managing the planning process across a range of residential development projects while working closely with internal teams, consultants, local authorities and other stakeholders. The role offers a balance of collaboration and autonomy. You’ll be part of a close-knit planning team of three, with the opportunity to help shape the function as the business continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the planning process from initial site appraisal and promotion through to planning submission, determination and discharge of conditions.
• Lead and coordinate planning applications for residential development projects.
• Work closely with internal development, technical, commercial and land teams to support the delivery of projects.
• Instruct and manage external planning consultants and other professional advisers where required.
• Liaise with local planning authorities, statutory consultees, stakeholders and other relevant parties.
• Provide planning advice and identify opportunities and potential risks throughout the development process.
• Monitor planning policy, local plans and emerging planning issues across Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas.
• Support the land and development teams with planning appraisals, site assessments and planning strategies.
• Manage planning conditions and obligations to help ensure schemes progress efficiently.
• Prepare and present planning updates, reports and recommendations to senior management.
• Contribute to the continued development of the company's planning processes and strategy.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is confident managing residential planning projects and can operate effectively both independently and as part of a wider team. You’ll ideally have:

• Experience working within residential planning, ideally with a housebuilder or residential developer.
• A strong understanding of the UK planning system and the residential development process.
• Experience managing planning applications from inception through to determination.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• A proactive and commercially aware approach.
• Confidence working independently and making informed decisions, while enjoying a collaborative team environment.
• Ideally, MRTPI or working towards chartership, although relevant experience will also be considered.

What’s on Offer

• £55,000–£70,000 salary, depending on experience.
• Additional performance-related bonus.
• Car allowance.
• Hybrid working: 4 days office-based and 1 day working remotely.
• The opportunity to join a growing housebuilder with a strong pipeline of development.
• A collaborative team environment with genuine scope to influence and develop the planning function.
• A team currently consisting of three planning professionals, with plans for further growth.
• Opportunity for career progression as the business expands.

The Opportunity

This is a role for a Planning Manager who wants more than simply managing applications. You’ll have the opportunity to play a key part in shaping planning strategy, influencing projects from an early stage and contributing to the continued growth of the business. If you’re an experienced residential planning professional looking for your next move in Cambridgeshire, this could be an excellent opportunity to join a growing housebuilder where your experience and ideas will have a genuine impact.