Planning Director

Planning Director – Real Estate Investment & Development
London
Full-time, Permanent
About
A privately held UK property investment and development business is seeking a Planning Director to lead planning strategy and delivery across a diverse national portfolio. The group manages assets across commercial, residential, mixed-use, hospitality, and alternative sectors, with a strong track record of value creation through active asset management, redevelopment, and strategic planning.
This role offers the opportunity to act as the organisation’s in-house planning authority, shaping strategy and guiding planning-led decisions across acquisitions, development, and asset enhancement initiatives.
Main Duties

• Strategic Leadership: Define and implement planning strategy across the portfolio, identify opportunities to unlock value, and anticipate planning policy and market changes.
• Commercial & Investment Support: Provide planning input to acquisitions, due diligence, repositioning, feasibility studies, design briefs, and appraisals.
• Planning Execution: Lead planning applications, pre-application discussions, appeals, and negotiations. Manage external consultant teams and ensure submissions are aligned with commercial objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with local authorities, statutory bodies, and other key stakeholders. Represent the business at committees, consultations, and public forums.
• Internal Collaboration : Partner with development, investment, and asset teams. Provide internal guidance, mentor colleagues, and contribute to strategic and capital decision-making.

To Be Considered

• MRTPI qualified with extensive post-qualification experience.
• Proven success in securing planning consents for complex schemes, particularly in London and the South East.
• Strong understanding of London planning policy, GLA procedures, and emerging trends.
• Experience advising investors, developers, or major landowners.
• Commercially astute with the ability to assess viability and balance planning ambition with financial outcomes.
• Confident communicator and negotiator with senior-level stakeholder engagement experience.
• Pragmatic, solution-oriented, and capable of leading both strategy and delivery.

For a confidential discussion, please contact: Daniah Williams 07989 435 960 / [email protected]