Director - Planning and Place

Homes England; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

33 days annual leave

Hybrid working model

Employee assistance programme

Professional body member support

Job summary

Homes England is recruiting for a senior leadership role to guide the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation (GCDC). The post holder will report to the Deputy CEO and lead an expert team to deliver housing, placemaking and regeneration initiatives in the Cambridge region.

The role involves strategic planning, budgeting, stakeholder engagement, and delivering a local planning authority framework with governance and policy alignment across partners. Hybrid working is offered.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in strategic planning and delivery for large-scale housing and economic growth.
• Experience leading and motivating multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of planning system and working knowledge of CPO may be valued.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the Planning & Place Directorate, including setting its direction and managing its budget.
• Lead the setup of GCDC as a local planning authority (subject to Parliamentary approval).
• Lead the next phase of work on the Framework for Good Growth, including stakeholder engagement.
• Provide direction to unlock and accelerate development on priority sites contributing to growth ambition.
• Lead development of a Quality placemaking framework for GCDC.

Skills

Strategic planning

Housing & economic growth

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Job description

Interviews will take place week commencing 05/10/2026 and 12/10/2026

There will be a two stage interview process and you will be required to complete an online Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) prior to second stage. The second stage interview will include a focus on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

About the role.

This is a senior leadership role within Greater Cambridge Development Corporation (GCDC), reporting to the Deputy CEO.

The post holder will work with economic, housing and other technical experts, local government, business, community and other stakeholders, to:

• provide strategic leadership of the Planning & Place Directorate, including setting the direction of the Directorate’s activities and management of its budget
• lead the setup of GCDC as a local planning authority (subject to the Parliamentary approval of the GCDC Planning Functions Order)
• lead the next phase of work on the Corporation’s Framework for Good Growth, including engagement with stakeholders and local communities.
• provide direction and strategic leadership to support unlocking and accelerating development on GCDC’s priority sites that will contribute to the overall growth ambition as set out in Framework for Good Growth.
• lead work on developing and delivering a Quality placemaking framework for GCDC.

The post holder will lead an existing team of c11 FTE and will oversee the further expansion of the team over the next 12-18 months. They will also be accountable for the delivery of a c£2m budget.

This role is being recruited by Homes England to support the establishment and operation of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation. The successful candidate will initially be employed by Homes England and will work predominantly on matters relating to the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation and its activities.

About you.

We are looking for someone with a proven track record in strategic planning and delivery or large-scale housing and economic growth to join our team. You should understand and be passionate about the planning and delivery of quality homes, placemaking and regeneration and want to work in an inclusive, supportive and driven team.

You will be motivated by the transformative impact of placemaking and understand the ability of a development led response to tackle social deprivation and economic underperformance.

The successful candidate will use their skills and experience in leadership, strategic planning and delivery of large scale economic and housing growth, complex infrastructure schemes and sustainability and placemaking to support the Cambridge ambition. An excellent understanding and practical experience of all aspects and stages of the planning system including both plan making and development management and working knowledge of CPO will also be valued.

The role also requires a deep understanding of sustainable place-making and relevant Government policies and priorities and will have experience of translating policy into operational delivery.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience of developing well-organised, effective teams and setting clear objectives aligned with the wider strategic ambitions for the wider team.

Who are we?

Homes England: The Housing and Regeneration Agency

As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas, combining the full breadth of our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built.

We form long-term partnerships that bridge the gap between the public and private sector to meet local needs and aspirations. And we use our funding and support to build a more resilient, diverse and innovative housing sector. Together with our partners, we’re accelerating the pace of house building, remediation and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver ever more affordable homes in places people are proud to call home for generations to come.

What we offer.

As well as a competitive salary and 33 days annual leave. Homes England are a geographically diverse community, and we are committed to 50/50 hybrid working model.

• Membership of the Homes and Communities Agency Pension Scheme, which is a contributory defined benefit scheme with the amount you receive on retirement based on your salary and years worked at the Agency.
• Internal applicants: please note that if you are successful, the salary you are offered will be in accordance with our pay policy. You can find details on the HR Hub SharePoint site.
• Employee assistance programme offering a wide range of healthcare plans, financial wellbeing support and access to many great discounts with leading high street names.
• A range of network groups are also there to support you to be yourself at work and play a key role in helping shape our future.
• If you are a member of a professional body, we’ll pay for your membership and once you get your digital kit, you’ll be good to go.

Our people remain at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to building an Agency that not only reflects the diverse communities we serve, but also champions inclusion in how we shape homes and places across the country. For more information about our EDI strategy please see our Homes England equality, diversity and inclusion reports - Homes England equality, diversity and inclusion reports - GOV.UK

You will be required to have the Right to Work in the UK and Homes England do not offer visa sponsorship. If your application is shortlisted to interview we will require you to provide proof of your Right to Work in the UK at this stage.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.