Assistant Planning Manager or Planning Manager (Strategic Land)

Cobalt are thrilled to be partnered with a busy and growing SME residential developer and promoter, hiring a key new team member within their office within Surrey, broadly working across the Thames Valley, Surrey and Hants region, on a hybrid basis. Working primarily within the strategic land space, this role will be a key one in their continued expansion in the region.

Your role will be to promote development sites through current and emerging Local Plans across the region. Alongside land and strategic land colleagues, you will collaborate and appraise sites on their potential, monitor Local Plans, manage relationships with local authorities and stakeholders and engage in Consultations. Having a strong understanding of local planning policy will be key.

The established and successful team are lean, yet experienced in both the identification, promotion and obtaining of full planning permission of residential-led sites throughout the region. You will be supported by a skilled team, and have a team lead with vast knowledge of the sector. Others in the team will focus on the identification of these sites, while your focus will be primarily on the policy, politics and progression of these through the planning process.

Your responsibilities will include:

· Leading on the strategic land promotion of sites and dealing with Local Plan representations

· Dealing with pre-apps and manage planning applications through the development process

· Liaising with colleagues internally as well as managing external consultants and Planning Officers.

· Monitoring Local Plan representations and changes in policy to identify potential opportunity areas.

· Attending meetings for Planning Committee, Consultations and similar events in representation of both the Company and clients through the planning process

· Working in conjunction with land buyers in the team and externally on the ongoing promotion of sites signed up.

You will ideally:

· Have at least three years within planning, focused on policy, strategic land or major sites.

· Have an interest in working for a promoter or developer, in pushing housing forward on the agenda.

· Have a strong knowledge of planning policy.

· Be a confident communicator and have excellent written skills.

· Be MRTPI or equivalent (or be working towards).

In exchange for your joining and dedication to the team, you will receive a competitive bonus and package, and will reap the rewards from collaborating with a successful regional team.

Please apply here or give me (Kate) a call to discuss. My client is looking to find the right candidate as soon as possible - so if in doubt, do get in touch. I also have other clients and roles that may be of interest.

If you do not hear anything back within one week, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion, but I will retain your details for future roles.