Job Title:
Land & Planning Manager
Location:
Derby
Salary:
Competitive Package + Benefits relevant to experience
Type:
Full-time, Permanent
Application Deadline:
Friday 3rd October 2025
About the role:
We are Wheeldon Brothers - building homes and shaping futures since 1867.
As a long-established, privately owned East Midlands housebuilder with a reputation for quality and design, we are proud of our heritage and ambitious about our future. Alongside our housebuilding arm, we work with landowners across England to advance the planning permission of their land, at our cost and risk, through our strategic land promotion vehicle Wheeldon 1867.
This unique Land and Planning Manager Role works across both Wheeldon Brothers Limited, our established housebuilder, and Wheeldon Brothers 1867 Limited, our strategic land-promotion arm. Working closely alongside the Director, you will divide your time according to business need - driving land acquisition for Wheeldon Brothers Ltd and advancing our land promotion portfolio for Wheeldon 1867.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a pivotal role at the heart of a growing business, where you'll have the satisfaction of seeing projects through from first contact with a landowner to planning approval and final purchase or sale.
Key Responsibilities - both businesses
* Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, active agents, planning consultants and other key stakeholders
* Expand our land network through targeted outreach and networking events
* Manage the ongoing relationships with landowners from first meeting through to transaction completion
* Negotiate, review and manage legal contracts (Sale Contracts, Promotion Agreements, Option Agreements) to inform business strategy and strengthen land portfolio
Key Responsibilities
-
Wheeldon Brothers Limited (Housebuilder)
* Identify and appraise sites which suit the land requirements of the business
* Value sites and prepare development appraisals for potential acquisitions
* Work with the Planning Director to secure planning permissions
* Reassess site viability as schemes evolve
* Secure final purchases following successful planning approval
Key Responsibilities
Wheeldon Brothers 1867 (Land Promoter)
* Identify and appraise strategic sites which suit the land requirements of the business (i.e. with medium-to-long term planning potential in the context of current and emerging planning policy)
* Work with the Director to prepare and present land promotion offers
* Negotiate and secure Strategic Land Agreements
* Brief and work alongside planning consultants and third-party consultants to achieve planning permissions
* Project manage planning applications from submission to decision
* Assist appointed agents with the sale of consented sites (post-planning approval)
Skills & Experience
* Proven experience in land acquisition, strategic land promotion, or residential development
* A Member of the RICS and/or the RTPI (desired)
* Strong understanding of the UK planning system
* Detailed knowledge of various types of land contracts
* Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills
* Commercial acumen with the ability to assess scheme viability
* Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
* Self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable, with a strong desire to grow professionally
What We Offer
* A competitive package
* Potential to make a significant impact across two complementary family-run businesses, with the satisfaction of seeing your work result in real developments and thriving communities
* Professional fees are covered
* A diverse and rewarding role, managing projects from outset to conclusion
* Autonomy and responsibility from day one, with opportunities to progress rapidly based on merit, without a rigid promotion structure
* A large and varied geographic area, offering a diverse range of sites and opportunities
* Travel across the South & Midlands - and occasionally further afield - with all expenses covered
* Actively encouraged to progress career development and network