About the Company
Our client is a successful, privately owned housebuilder with an established reputation for delivering high-quality homes across the South Midlands, Oxfordshire and West Midlands. With a healthy forward pipeline and a focus on both immediate and strategic land, the business is entering a new phase of growth and is seeking a Head of Planning to lead planning strategy and delivery across the region.
This is a senior leadership role offering autonomy, visibility and a genuine opportunity to shape the future development pipeline of a growing residential business.
The Role
As Head of Planning, you will take responsibility for all planning matters from early feasibility to consent, working closely with the land and development teams to unlock new sites. You will provide planning advice on emerging land opportunities, manage applications, lead consultants and drive planning strategies that maximise value and deliver commercially sound outcomes.
You will support decision-making at board level, represent the company in planning negotiations, and build strong relationships with local authorities, stakeholders and external consultants.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead planning strategy for both immediate land and strategic land opportunities
* Appraise new land offers from a planning, policy and commercial perspective
* Manage planning applications from pre-app engagement through to consent
* Identify risks, constraints, Section 106 requirements and mitigation strategies
* Commission, brief and coordinate planning consultants, architects and technical specialists
* Work closely with the Land Director to shape bids, offers and promotional agreements
* Prepare planning reports and recommendations for board and investment committee discussions
* Engage with local authority planning officers, parish councils and stakeholder groups
* Monitor Local Plans, housing needs assessments, 5-year land supply and emerging allocations
* Support Planning Appeals, Local Plan representations, hearings and EiPs as required
* Drive proactive planning strategies to support business growth and secure a sustainable pipeline
Candidate Profile
* RTPI qualified or equivalent professional town planning background
* Proven experience in residential development planning, ideally with a housebuilder, strategic land promoter, or planning consultancy
* Excellent working knowledge of planning policy, Local Plans, affordable housing and Section 106 / CIL
* Demonstrable success achieving consents for medium to large-scale housing schemes
* Strong project management, report writing and stakeholder engagement skills
* Ability to balance commercial priorities with planning strategy
* Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment