Cost Planning and Commercial Lead
London or Basingstoke office - Hybrid (multiple locations)
As Cost Planning & Commercial Lead, you’ll play a critical role in supporting land acquisition, regeneration and new business opportunities, ensuring schemes are viable, cost-competitive and commercially robust from the earliest stages.
You’ll work closely with Land, New Business, Regeneration, Design and Technical teams, providing cost and risk insight across S106, land-led, JV and regeneration projects, typically ranging from £50m–£150m+.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide regional cost planning and commercial advice to support land bids and investment decisions
* Prepare and maintain detailed cost plans and viability appraisals from RIBA Stages 1–4
* Support feasibility studies with robust commercial and risk input
* Collaborate with design, technical, commercial teams and external consultants to deliver cost-effective, buildable solutions
* Lead value engineering, risk identification and mitigation across schemes
* Benchmark costs and maintain a library of rates and cost data
* Interpret drawings and specifications to produce cost schedules and budget estimates
* Ensure cost assessments reflect planning obligations and site-specific constraints
What We’re Looking For:
* Degree in construction, quantity surveying or built environment (or equivalent experience)
* Significant experience in cost planning / quantity surveying, ideally within a developer, housing association or PQS environment
* Proven experience delivering large-scale residential schemes (£50m–£150m+)
* Strong knowledge of brownfield, high-density and mixed-use developments
* Geotechnical and engineered foundation solutions
* Traditional and piled foundations (temporary and permanent works)
* Concrete frames, basements and remediation works
* Houses, apartments and MMC / alternative construction methods
* Proficient in cost planning software and commercial analysis
* Excellent stakeholder management, communication and analytical skills
Why Join:
* Be part of a market-leading development programme with real social impact
* Work on complex, high-value residential schemes with long-term investment certainty
* Collaborative, values-led organisation with a strong commitment to quality and sustainability
* Competitive salary and benefits package
* Opportunity to influence how homes and communities are delivered across the UK
Please reach out to Jamie Fitch to discuss this opportunity further