Our client is an established master developer and strategic land promoter with a substantial pipeline of large-scale mixed-use and residential-led sites across the South East. With the December 2025 NPPF reforms significantly expanding the opportunity set for strategic land promotion, they are growing their in-house planning capability and require a Senior Planning Manager to own complex consents from promotion through to planning permission.
This is a high-autonomy role sitting between senior management and technical delivery — you will lead on emerging LPA relationships, manage external consultants, and shape the planning strategy on sites typically ranging from 500 to 5,000+ units.
The role — key responsibilities
* Lead planning promotion of strategic land allocations and outline applications
* Own LPA pre-application dialogue and political stakeholder engagement
* Manage multi-disciplinary consultant teams (transport, ecology, heritage, drainage)
* Coordinate DCO, EIA, or hybrid application processes on large sites
* Negotiate Section 106 agreements and planning conditions
* Prepare and present reports to board on planning programme and risk
* Support land acquisition due diligence — planning appraisals and risk matrices
* Monitor emerging local plan policy and contribute to representations
What we're looking for
* MRTPI qualified with 6–12 years PQE (applications-side or promoter-side)
* Demonstrable track record on strategic sites (500+ units or mixed-use)
* Experience working in or with a land promoter, master developer, or strategic housebuilder
* Strong knowledge of NPPF, emerging plan-making reforms, and the housing delivery test
* Proven consultant management and programme delivery capability
* Experience with S106 negotiation and infrastructure delivery planning
* EIA coordination experience on major residential or mixed-use schemes
* Confident presenter to committees, inspectors, and senior stakeholders
What will set you apart
* Local plan examination or public inquiry experience (as advocate or witness)
* Knowledge of the South East / Kent / Surrey / Sussex LPA landscape
* Experience on garden village, new settlement, or urban extension promotions
* Relationships with key consultancy and counsel networks in the strategic land market