Senior Town Planner (Client-side)

Cobalt Recruitment; Preston; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension contribution

Career progression

Supportive leadership team

Salary competitive

Job summary

Cobalt Recruitment is helping a fast-growing residential development business recruit a Senior Town Planner to drive planning permissions from land acquisitions to planning approvals across a pipeline of schemes.

You will lead applications for high-quality residential developments, coordinate external planning consultants, manage the process from submission to determination, and liaise with local authorities and key stakeholders alongside a supportive Land & Planning team.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of planning experience.
• Experience preparing and managing planning applications.
• MRTPI chartered or working towards MRTPI (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Prepare, submit and manage planning applications.
• Coordinate external planning consultants and technical specialists.
• Manage the planning process from submission through to determination.
• Advise on planning strategy and supporting land acquisition opportunities.
• Liaise with local planning authorities and key stakeholders.
• Ensure all supporting reports and documentation are commissioned and delivered on time.
• Work closely with the Land team to help drive projects forward.

Skills

Planning applications

Negotiation

Organisational skills

Stakeholder liaison

Education

MRTPI status or working towards MRTPI

Job description

Are you a Senior Town Planner looking to move into a fast-paced, client-side environment where you'll see your projects through from land acquisition to planning approval?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious Senior Town Planner to join a growing residential development business with a significant pipeline of projects and long-term growth plans. With substantial land acquisitions already secured and numerous planning applications scheduled over the coming years, this is an excellent time to become part of an expanding team.

You'll work alongside an experienced and supportive land and planning team, gaining exposure to strategic planning while taking ownership of planning applications for high-quality residential developments.

The Role

This is a hands-on planning position focused on delivering planning permissions across a range of residential schemes, many exceeding 150 units.

• Preparing, managing and submitting planning applications.
• Coordinating external planning consultants and technical specialists.
• Managing the planning process from submission through to determination.
• Advising on planning strategy and supporting land acquisition opportunities.
• Liaising with local planning authorities and key stakeholders.
• Ensuring all supporting reports and documentation are commissioned and delivered on time.
• Working closely with the Land team to help drive projects forward.

About You

You'll ideally have around 2-5 years' planning experience and be looking for the next step in your career.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience preparing and managing planning applications.
• Is confident dealing with local authorities and external consultants.
• Has strong organisational and negotiation skills.
• Thrives in a fast-moving, collaborative environment.
• MRTPI chartered or working towards MRTPI (preferred but not essential).
• Is ambitious and keen to develop within a growing business.

What's on Offer?

• Salary – competitive based on experience.
• Annual bonus.
• Pension contribution.
• Excellent career progression within a growing business.
• Supportive and experienced leadership team.