Area Head of Planning

Description

• Lead a team of Planners to secure planning permission across strategic, residential-led opportunities within the SL&MP Land Bank.
• Engage with the Strategic Land and Planning Teams to ensure that all relevant milestones and triggers are met with regard to planning strategies and formal contractual obligations.
• Ensure that planning appraisals and strategies put forward in support of new land bids are robust and that proposed contractual terms are fit for purpose in light of the planning context.
• Monitor key planning policy/guidance developments that impact on the Company’s operations and communicate these effectively to internal departments.
• Ensure that all Vistry internal procedures for securing and promoting sites are adhered to.
• Ensure that the West Area Planning Team monitors and reviews the annual Budget and monthly cash flow profile and report regularly to the Strategic Planning Director on progress
• Establish a programme for promoting, reviewing and monitoring each West Area option site through the planning process and delivery into the Regional business/third party disposal with the appropriate consents.
• To report regularly to the Strategic Planning Director on progress of priority sites and other sites within the Strategic Land Bank.
• Establish clear lines of regular reporting to ensure appropriate engagement with other internal/Regional teams to enable them to plan housing development in accordance with targets set.
• To develop and maintain regular contacts with planning officers and stakeholders within the area of operation. To discuss with Local Planning Authorities at a senior level the future potential of land for development.
• Ensure all paperwork and reporting is produced accurately and as required by the Company.

Requirements

• In-depth knowledge of planning policy and regulatory frameworks, with the ability to interpret and apply changes to business operations effectively.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, capable of building and maintaining relationships with senior planning officers, local authorities, and industry bodies.
• Extensive planning expertise with a proven track record of securing planning permissions for large-scale, residential-led developments.
• Leadership and team management experience, including coaching, performance monitoring, and driving professional development within planning teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to prepare robust planning appraisals and strategies that align with contractual and business objectives.
• Exceptional organisational and reporting abilities, ensuring accurate documentation, clear communication, and timely delivery of strategic projects.

Benefits

We value in-person collaboration and team culture, but we’re also committed to supporting flexible working where possible. We encourage you to raise any specific requirements during the interview process so we can explore how this could be accommodated.

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Share save and share incentive schemes
• Salary sacrifice car scheme available to all employees
• Life assurance at 4 x your annual salary
• Private medical insurance, with employee paid cover
• Competitive pension scheme through salary sacrifice
• Up to 33 days annual leave plus bank holidays increasing to up to 39 days with service
• Employee rewards portal with many more benefits…
• Competitive basic salary and annual bonus
• Company car, car allowance or travel allowance
• 2 Volunteering days per annum

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance