Planner

Bellway Homes Ltd; Essex; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK house builder is seeking a Planner for its Essex Division to provide planning advice on land acquisitions and manage strategic land processes. The ideal candidate will have relevant experience and qualifications, specifically a Planning or Surveying Degree. Responsibilities include advising on residential schemes and negotiating with local authorities. The role offers a competitive salary, car allowance, and comprehensive benefits including a pension scheme and 25 days holiday.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Competitive car allowance

Optional salary sacrifice car scheme

Competitive annual bonus

Contributory pension scheme

25 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Access to discounts and benefits portal

ShareSave Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Life assurance

Holiday Purchase Scheme

Earn and Learn Opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience of working as a Planner.
• Experience in addressing the public and council officers in forums.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day planning advice to land teams.
• Identify and advise on potential development sites.
• Negotiate terms to acquire land interests.

Skills

Effective communication and listening skills

Excellent attention to detail

Works collaboratively

Good administration skills

Proficient IT skills

Education

Planning or Surveying Degree or above

RICS or RTPI registration

Job description

At Bellway we recognise that people are the key to our success, and we are committed to building an inclusive culture that values and respects differences and creates a safe and inclusive working environment for all colleagues. This means we are positive about making adjustments, providing flexible working and are happy to talk to you about how this could work for you.

The opportunity is to join Bellway, one of the UK’s largest house builders. Our Essex Division is looking to recruit a Planner to join the Division’s Land department.

The Role

The Planner will report to the Regional Planning Director and will be responsible for advising the land teams on all aspects of planning policy and development control affecting land acquisition. This role is also responsible for the management of strategic land.

Principle accountabilities of the Planner role include:

• Provide day-to-day planning advice to land teams primarily on residential schemes but also mixed-use developments.
• Management and promotion of the Strategic Land Portfolio to deliver sites to the division at the earliest possible opportunity.
• Identify and advise divisional land teams of potential development sites that may become available through prevailing/emerging planning policy.
• Promote sites through the Local Plan system and keep Land Director/Land Manager and the divisional management team advised of progress.
• Negotiate terms working with the Land Director and the Divisional Planning Manager as appropriate to acquire land interests directly with landowners and agents.
• Prepare Planning Reports on land to be acquired by the division identifying any planning/commercial risk.
• Assist with formulating planning strategies to obtain a planning consent in a timely manner within an appropriate deadline that allows the division to deliver sales completions in accordance with forecasts and maximises commercial returns for the company.
• Negotiate with Local Authority officers and the community regarding residential development proposals, ensuring they are commercially viable and capable of achieving a planning consent within a reasonable timescale.
• Negotiate S106 agreements with the Land Team as appropriate in accordance with the Company’s requirements and advise the division of the commercial implications.
• Prepare and submit planning applications with accompanying scoping and screening opinions and the appropriate level of information to ensure the application is registered, processed by the Local Authority and compliant to avoid legal challenge.
• Attend Planning Committee Meetings and speak/present on behalf of the company as necessary.
• Prepare, submit and process appeals, including the ability to prepare proofs of evidence and assist at any hearing/inquiry as necessary.
• Manage expenditure and prepare budget costs for planning application/appeals, including appointment of consultant teams and ensuring expenditure is within the agreed budget.
• Assist in delivering the business’s Better with Bellway KPIs.

Experience, Qualifications and Skills

Experience

• Experience of working as a Planner.
• Experience of addressing the general public as well as council officers and committee members in a public forum.

Qualifications and Training

• Planning or Surveying Degree or above or equivalent is desirable.
• RICS or RTPI registration.

Skills and Aptitude

• Effective communication and listening skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Works collaboratively with a diverse range of people.
• Good administration skills.
• Works effectively to deadlines and competently on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Proficient IT skills.
• Committed to diversity and inclusion.

The Role and Working Conditions

• Willing to be flexible in respect to day-to-day duties and hours worked.
• Ability to travel to potential land opportunities and external meetings on a regular basis.

In return we can offer you:

• Competitive salary.
• Competitive car allowance.
• Optional salary sacrifice car scheme.
• Competitive annual bonus.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays.
• Access to discounts and benefits portal.
• ShareSave Scheme.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Life assurance.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme.
• Earn and Learn Opportunities.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy if a large volume of applications are received.