Town Planning Manager - Lancaster | Cumbria & Lancashire Region.
£50k - £60k plus package.
We are working with a highly successful, well-established housebuilder to appoint a Town Planning Manager to join their Land & Planning team based in Lancaster.
This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in a growing business unit, with an ambitious but realistic growth strategy, offering genuine exposure to both strategic and immediate planning work, alongside commercial involvement in site viability.
The Role
As Town Planning Manager, you will operate across Cumbria and Lancashire, supporting a busy and diverse planning function. You will be instrumental in managing a varied pipeline of applications while also contributing to longer-term strategic land initiatives.
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading and managing a broad range of planning applications (from 40 to 1,000 units)
* Driving planning strategies across a geographically diverse patch, requiring a higher number of sites to maintain delivery levels
* Supporting ongoing re-planning and optimisation of existing sites
* Working closely with the Land team on site acquisitions and bids
* Contributing to strategic land promotions, including Green Belt opportunities
* Providing input into site viability and commercial decision-making
* Engaging with stakeholders, local authorities, and consultants across multiple schemes
Current & Upcoming Projects
You will be joining a team with an exciting and active pipeline, including:
* A flagship, exciting 1,000-unit scheme (golf course redevelopment)
* Recently secured sites including:
* 180 units
* 100 units
* 200 units
* 200 units
The business is currently delivering ~400 units per year, with a structured and sustainable plan to grow back to 600 units annually.
The Team & Culture
* A high-performing, close-knit Land & Planning team
* Strong collaboration across departments
* A supportive environment with real ownership and autonomy
* Exposure to both immediate delivery and long-term strategic planning
The Opportunity
This role offers something slightly different from traditional planning roles:
* Commercial exposure through involvement in viability and land acquisition
* A balanced mix of development management and strategic planning
* The chance to work on large-scale, high-impact projects
* A geographically diverse patch (Cumbria & Lancashire, with Preston as the southernmost point — no Manchester or Liverpool work)
About You
We are keen to speak with candidates who:
* Have experience in residential planning (housebuilder, consultancy, or local authority)
* Are confident managing multiple planning applications simultaneously
* Want to gain or further develop commercial and viability exposure
* Are proactive, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
Why Apply?
* Join a growing business with a clear, sustainable strategy
* Work on exciting, large-scale developments
* Gain broader commercial exposure than typically found in planning roles
* Be part of a supportive, high-performing team