Development Manager – Planning & Strategy

Residential Development.

Buckinghamshire | South East travel.

This role will suit a planning-led development professional with front-end experience across land promotion, planning strategy and early-stage development.

Working for a well-capitalised residential developer, you will take responsibility for major residential and mixed‑use opportunities across London and broader South East, leading projects from early promotion through Local Plan progression and allocation to planning consent.

The position is focused on the front end of the development lifecycle, with responsibility for planning strategy, land promotion, consultant management and input into commercially informed development decisions.

It is best suited to individuals who are strongest in planning and strategy, and who want broader exposure across land, development and commercial decision‑making.

The Opportunity

Working within a high‑performing strategic land and development team, you will lead the planning and promotion strategy across a portfolio of large‑scale development opportunities.

These are complex, high‑value sites that require strong planning judgement, commercial awareness and the ability to navigate land, policy and stakeholder strategy at pace.

You will shape planning strategy, manage consultant teams, advise on planning risk and opportunity, and steer projects through the most commercially important stages of the development lifecycle.

This is a front‑end development role with genuine influence, strong internal visibility and clear long‑term progression.

You will have the platform to:

• Lead projects at the most commercially important stage of the lifecycle
• Shape planning strategy across major residential and mixed‑use schemes
• Influence land promotion, allocation and planning outcomes from day one
• Work on large, high‑value sites with real long‑term significance
• Move closer to commercial decision‑making and development strategy
• Operate with the perspective of a developer, not the constraints of consultancy
• Play a central role in shaping future pipeline

For those in consultancy, strategic land or planning‑heavy development roles, this is a chance to step closer to the commercial heart of development while staying firmly in the front‑end strategy space.

About You

This role is likely to suit:

• A Development Manager with a planning‑led background
• A Senior Planner looking to move client‑side
• A Strategic Land or Promotions professional seeking broader ownership
• A planning consultant looking for greater commercial exposure

You will likely offer:

• Strong experience in strategic planning, land promotion or planning‑led development
• A track record of progressing residential‑led schemes through planning
• Experience managing planning applications, allocations or appeals
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of development drivers
• Excellent consultant management and stakeholder engagement skills
• Confidence operating across planning, political and commercial environments
• RTPI or RICS (Planning & Development) preferred

You will be joining a stable, well‑capitalised and highly regarded developer with the financial strength to take a long‑term view and the credibility to unlock complex sites.

The business offers genuine scale, strong internal progression and the opportunity to work on high‑quality residential and mixed‑use developments with real strategic significance.

For planning‑led professionals looking to broaden their development exposure and step into a more commercially influential role, this is a standout opportunity.

#J-18808-Ljbffr