Associate / Associate Director Development Planner

LUC; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

LUC seeks an experienced Associate/Associate Director Development Planner to join their Manchester office, focusing on renewable energy projects. This full-time role involves leading projects, engaging with clients, and ensuring successful planning outcomes while advocating for a sustainable future.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing renewable energy projects.
• Proven track record in development planning and applications.
• Strong report writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead on renewable energy projects across the UK.
• Engage with planning authorities and clients.
• Assist in all stages from planning strategy to project completion.

Skills

Renewable energy

Development planning

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Degree in Planning or relevant field

Chartered membership of RTPI

Job description

Associate / Associate Director Development Planner – Manchester
Ref 2025-27
About the role:
We are seeking an experienced Development Planner to lead on projects across the UK from our Manchester office, with a focus on renewable energy and supporting infrastructure projects. This is an exciting opportunity to join our award-winning team of 80 planners, spread across our offices in London, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Our key sectors are renewable energy, education, sport and recreation, historic environment, agriculture and forestry, housing and mixed-use development. With our complementary landscape, heritage, ecology, transport and EIA services, we help clients to maximise the potential of their development, while respecting key assets. We work with the climate and biodiversity emergencies firmly in mind.
Our current projects as planning consultants include advising on wind, solar, energy storage and grid upgrade projects for private and public sector clients; masterplans and major projects for schools; landmark developments in historic parks and gardens; new facilities for sport and recreation; and parks, recreation and housing schemes for local authorities. LUC prides itself on being able to make an impact across a range of project scales.
The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees.
The role is based in LUC’s offices in Manchester. We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.
A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.
Salary: £46,000 to £65,920 FTE (Depending on experience).
This is a great time to be joining LUC. Since its creation nearly 60 years ago, LUC has been driven by the belief that planning has a critical role to play in shaping the world around us for the better. This work has never been more critical or urgent.
Experience and qualifications
We are seeking an experienced Development Planner to lead on projects across the UK from our Manchester office, with a focus on renewable energy and its supporting infrastructure. You will be involved in all stages of the project cycle, from taking an active role in business development and tenders through to project delivery and completion. From early advice on planning strategy and feasibility through to securing planning permission and providing post consent support, you will be a technically confident planning advisor to our public and private sector clients across our key sectors, with a particular focus on renewable energy. You will provide senior support to our Manchester development planning team and wider team, supported by the Development Planning service lead and team members. Working confidently with colleagues in the Manchester office and from across LUC you will help to develop opportunities for multi-disciplinary projects at a range of scales. 2/3
Essential
Renewables experience in wind, solar, energy storage and supporting infrastructure. Extensive development planning / management experience, ideally in both the public and private sectors, including the preparation of feasibility studies, pre-application / planning application reports, submitting applications and building excellent relationships with local planning authority case officers / applicants. You will have project managed and/or led/overseen a range of applications or development projects including renewable energy and infrastructure projects, at a range of scales including large / complex projects, taking a lead on planning strategy and negotiating with local planning authorities / applicants. Excellent communication skills, the ability to build and nurture positive and effective relationships with colleagues, clients, and case officers, and good negotiation skills. Excellent report writing skills including the ability to communicate complex planning issues clearly and make concise planning arguments. Educated to at least degree level, in a relevant Planning or other degree (graduate and/or post-graduate). Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Desirable
DCO / NSIP experience in England & DNS experience in Wales. Experience across our key sectors. Understanding / experience of Environmental Impact Assessment. Expert witness at appeals and inquiries.
Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.
Please apply by clicking APPLY below.
LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.
About LUC:
LUC is an award-winning environmental consultancy that aims to make a difference. With nearly 60 years of experience, we want to make an impact: delivering better futures for nature, people, and places.
Our holistic services support clients in tackling complex land use problems on projects at every scale. Our expert teams collaborate across disciplines to create cities, towns and landscapes for a more sustainable future.
We are employee-owned, which means we invest in our people and operate with kindness. Our creative, forward-thinking professionals are passionate about addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. We’re leading the way in driving lasting and positive change.
Our Mission is to deliver better futures for nature, people and places.
Just like our founders, we’re dedicated to leaving this world in a better place. And we believe we have the power to create a positive legacy through all our projects. We do this by guiding our clients, as well as influencing national and local policy.
Of course, we recognise that change is inevitable. But we also recognise that cities, towns and landscapes of the future must work to help nature recover and to create a fairer society for all. We are committed to creating beautiful, inclusive places that support the health and wellbeing of the people and environments impacted by such inevitable change. 3/3
Our Values are what make us.
They reflect our heritage, express the attitudes of our people, and capture what our clients tell us we’re like to work with. Our values are timeless, informing the actions of every generation of LUC. They guide our big thinking as much as our daily working lives – from the projects we pursue, to how we manage people, to how we resolve conflicting interests.
We act with professionalism and integrity We have the courage and openness to lead We collaborate to achieve shared goals We act with passion, insight and creativity We are intrinsically people-centred