Planning Manager

Planning Manager

Location: Bristol

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Job Type: Full-time

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Planning Manager to join a residential property developer in Bristol. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional to play a key role in bringing forward residential development sites, managing planning strategies and supporting the delivery of new housing schemes across the region.

Working closely with land, technical, design and commercial teams, you will oversee the planning process from initial site appraisal and promotion through to planning permission and delivery. You will play a pivotal role in identifying planning opportunities, navigating complex planning constraints and ensuring schemes are progressed in line with the company's development objectives.

This position would suit a commercially minded planning professional with strong knowledge of the residential development sector who is looking to take ownership of a varied portfolio of sites within an established housebuilder.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the planning process for a portfolio of residential development sites, from initial land appraisal and feasibility through to planning consent.
• Develop and implement planning strategies to maximise the development potential of allocated, promoted and potential land opportunities.
• Assess planning policy, local development plans and emerging legislation to identify opportunities and risks affecting prospective sites.
• Work closely with land acquisition teams to assess new development opportunities, providing planning advice and identifying potential constraints at an early stage.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of outline and detailed planning applications, reserved matters applications and associated planning documents.
• Manage relationships with local planning authorities, planning officers, statutory consultees, external consultants and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, including architects, highways consultants, ecologists, engineers and other technical specialists.
• Monitor planning application progress, resolving issues and negotiating with local authorities to secure positive outcomes.
• Support the delivery of residential schemes by ensuring planning conditions and obligations are addressed in a timely and commercially effective manner.
• Provide regular updates to internal stakeholders on planning progress, programme risks, policy changes and potential impacts on development viability.
• Manage planning-related budgets, consultant appointments and project timescales.
• Contribute to the promotion of strategic land opportunities and the preparation of representations to local plans where appropriate.

About You

• Experience in a town planning role, ideally within a residential developer, housebuilder or planning consultancy working closely with the housebuilding sector.
• Strong understanding of the UK planning system and the policies affecting residential development.
• Experience managing planning applications and securing planning permission for housing schemes.
• Knowledge of residential development, including outline applications, reserved matters, planning conditions and Section 106 agreements.
• Ability to assess planning constraints and identify practical solutions that support commercial and development objectives.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the confidence to engage with local authorities, consultants and internal teams.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple sites and competing deadlines.
• A commercially aware approach, understanding the relationship between planning, land value, viability and project delivery.
• MRTPI status or working towards chartership would be advantageous.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Car allowance in addition to base salary.
• The opportunity to work on a varied portfolio of residential development projects.
• A key role within a collaborative, multidisciplinary housebuilding team.
• The opportunity to influence site acquisition, planning strategy and the delivery of new homes.
• Long-term career development and progression opportunities.
• A supportive working environment with the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the company's development pipeline.

If you are interested please do not hesitate to contact me via email on [email protected]. Alternatively if this role is not for you, feel free to share it with your wider network!