Senior Planner

Penguin Recruitment; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional housebuilder is seeking a Planner or Senior Planner to support their Land and Planning team in Bury St Edmunds. The successful candidate will manage land opportunities and must have a relevant degree and ideally five years of experience in planning. Benefits include a competitive salary, car allowance, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Car allowance

Private medical insurance

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working

Pension scheme

Cycle-to-work and gym membership schemes

Qualifications

• 5 years' experience in planning—consultancy, development, or local authority.
• Eligibility for RTPI membership preferred.
• Full UK driving licence required for site visits.

Responsibilities

• Support the Planning Manager in delivering land opportunities.
• Prepare and submit planning applications.
• Coordinate external consultants.

Skills

Planning policy understanding

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related discipline

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Planner / Senior Planner - Residential Developer (East Anglia)

Location: Bury St Edmunds

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a highly respected regional housebuilder in their search for a Planner or Senior Planner to join their expanding Land and Planning team.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in a growing business renowned for creating high-quality homes and sustainable communities across East Anglia. The successful candidate will be joining a supportive and ambitious team where professional development and career progression are actively encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Support the Planning Manager in delivering both immediate and strategic land opportunities across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire.
• Reviewing new land acquisition opportunities.
• Preparing and submitting planning applications and other consents under the Town and Country Planning Act.
• Coordinating external consultants (heritage, ecology, landscape, design).
• Attending meetings with local authorities and community stakeholders.
• Assisting in Section 106 negotiations and preparing Community Infrastructure Levy documentation.
• Staying up to date with planning policy changes relevant to residential-led development.

Candidate Requirements

• Degree in Town Planning or a related discipline, with eligibility for RTPI membership preferred.
• Ideally five years' experience in planning—whether from consultancy, development, or local authority background.
• Strong understanding of planning policy, good placemaking principles, and the residential development process.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, work collaboratively, and meet key deadlines.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Full UK driving licence (site visits required).

Benefits

• Competitive salary (DOE)
• Car allowance
• Private medical insurance
• Generous holiday entitlement with holiday purchase scheme
• Flexible working (1 day from home)
• Pension scheme
• Cycle-to-work and gym membership schemes

If you\'re a motivated Planner or Senior Planner seeking to make an impact in a high-quality, design-led development business, we\'d love to hear from you.

For more information or to apply, contact Josh Jones at Penguin Recruitment on (phone number removed) or email