Planning Manager

Cognisant is working in partnership with a well-capitalised, privately owned regional housebuilder to appoint a Planning Manager into its growing planning team.

Our client has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, design-led residential developments, with an expanding pipeline across open market and multi-tenure housing. Backed by a stable platform, experienced leadership team and clear growth strategy, the business is well positioned for continued expansion and offers genuine long-term progression.

Reporting into the Head of Planning, this role will play a key part in shaping and progressing planning strategy across a live and growing portfolio of residential sites. Working closely with Land, Technical and wider development teams, you will support projects from early-stage appraisal through to consent, helping to unlock opportunities and drive schemes forward both strategically and commercially.

This is an excellent opportunity for a planner looking to make their first move client-side, stepping away from fee-earning into a broader development role with direct exposure to land, planning strategy, commercial decision-making and the full lifecycle of residential delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of planning workstreams across a portfolio of live residential sites
• Lead and coordinate the preparation and submission of planning applications, including outline, full, reserved matters and discharge of conditions
• Manage external consultant teams across planning submissions, appeals and technical workstreams
• Undertake site appraisals, reviewing planning policy, local plan allocations, housing need, constraints and development potential
• Support land acquisition and development strategy by assessing opportunities through both planning and commercial lenses
• Influence planning strategy across the portfolio, ensuring sites are progressed in line with wider business objectives
• Monitor planning application performance, appeal activity and emerging development plan policy across key operating areas
• Liaise with local authorities, planning officers, statutory consultees and key stakeholders throughout the planning process
• Support community consultation and stakeholder engagement activity where required
• Assist in the preparation of appeal statements, evidence and supporting documentation for hearings and inquiries
• Maintain planning programmes and reporting to support forecasting, delivery and strategic decision-making
• Attend project meetings, site visits and stakeholder meetings as required

Candidate Profile

• Degree qualified in Town Planning or a related discipline
• Experience gained within planning consultancy, housebuilding, land promotion or the public sector
• Good understanding of the UK planning system
• Experience preparing planning applications and supporting the delivery of residential planning consents
• Collaborative and personable, with the ability to engage effectively across internal teams and external stakeholders
• Interested in developing a broader client-side skillset with exposure to land, strategy and commercial decision-making
• Full UK driving licence

Why Consider It

This is an excellent opportunity for a planner seeking their first move from consultancy into development, or for someone already client-side looking to broaden their exposure within a well-funded and highly supportive business. The role offers the chance to step beyond purely advisory work and gain direct involvement in land, planning strategy and commercial decision-making, while working across the full lifecycle of residential development. With a strong pipeline, experienced leadership team and clear progression route, this role offers an ideal platform for planners looking to build a long-term career in development and evolve into a broader strategic role over time.

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