Senior Planning Manager
Application Deadline: 28 November 2025
Department: Land & Planning
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Taplow, Buckinghamshire
Description
Berkeley Strategic Land is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Berkeley Group.
Leveraging Berkeley’s financial strength and regeneration expertise, Berkeley Strategic Land identifies and secures long-term strategic sites for future development. Working collaboratively with local authorities and stakeholders, it promotes land through the Local Plan process and seeks planning consent for delivery by Berkeley.
With the backing of The Berkeley Group, the team applies a flexible and innovative approach to land acquisition, employing option agreements, freehold purchases, and other structures that align with the interests of landowners.
Based at Berkeley’s Oxford and Chiltern regional head office in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, the role involves regular travel throughout the South East.
The role
Working as part of an ambitious and dynamic multi-disciplinary team the main purpose of the role is to manage existing land contracts, support the Planning team in developing site acquisition and value realisation strategies and identify and acquiring strategic land on behalf of Berkeley Strategic.
The core duties associated with the role include:
* Negotiating and processing amendments to existing land contracts.
* Preparation of detailed financial appraisals in order to assess risk and return.
* Support the Planning team in developing site acquisition and value realisation strategies during the planning process.
* Evaluating innovative approaches to contract structures that align the interests of land owners and Berkeley.
* Identifying strategic land opportunities located within the Company’s area of search, predominantly in the South East of England.
* Detailed appraisal of strategic land opportunities identifying constraints and opportunities.
* The preparation of detailed due diligence prior to the submission of offers and exchange of contracts to clearly identify and articulate the opportunities and risks with the proposed land acquisition.
* Preparation and submission of offers to land owners to acquire development sites and negotiating commercial terms and contracts.
* A pro-active approach to forming and maintaining working relationships with land agents and landowners.
* The Land Manager will report to the Managing Director but will play an important role working collaboratively with the senior management team of the Strategic Land business.
Experience required
* Preferably a Chartered Surveyor RICS (Planning and Development).
* Post qualification experience gained in consultancy or development.
* A highly motivated individual with a strategic and innovative approach.
* Commercial awareness and ability to assess development potential and risk.
* Highly numerate with excellent competence using Excel.
* Demonstrate market knowledge and planning expertise.
* An ability to build positive and meaningful relationships with landowners and their representatives.
* A strong aptitude for effective team working.
* Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
* Excellent knowledge of both land purchase contracts and land due diligence.
* Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the South East region.
Why join us?
* 25 days annual leave, increasing with service to 33 days.
* Health and wellbeing benefits including Private Medical Insurance.
* Lifestyle benefits including access to an online discount platform.
* Berkeley Foundation volunteer day.
* Private pension plan.
* Group life assurance.
Internal applicants: If you’re an internal applicant, please ensure you’ve informed your line manager of your intention to apply for this position.
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