Land & Planning Manager

Company Overview

Alderley Group is an award-winning, rapidly expanding UK development company, specialising in sourcing land for new build affordable housing, retirement, and extra-care schemes. We deliver these projects using our in-house construction team, Alderley Partnerships, under D&B JCT contracts across England. We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Land & Planning Manager to join our team within Alderley Group and Alderley Partnerships, based in our regional office in Birchwood, Warrington.

About the Role

As a Land & Planning Manager, you will be at the forefront of our land acquisition and planning processes, driving the identification, acquisition, and planning of new development sites. You will be a key player in a high-performance team, contributing directly to Alderley’s strategic growth target of delivering 500+ homes annually across our various arms. Your role is crucial in expanding our land opportunities and ensuring efficient, timely delivery of high-quality developments.

Key Responsibilities

Land Identification & Planning

• Lead the search for new development sites and secure planning permissions, from initial bid preparation and contract negotiation to managing the design team and delivering planning consents. Your work will directly support the delivery of the group’s project pipeline and the growth of our land bank.
• Leverage your extensive network of property contacts, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with local authorities, agents, landowners, and other developers to identify and secure prime land opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of our mixed-use strategy by sourcing land through strategic planning policies and regulations. This includes greenfield, brownfield, in-fill sites, and commercial conversions for residential development.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Alderley Group’s land appraisal system and internal procedures to investigate, report, and ultimately purchase land.
• Collaborate closely with the planning and technical teams, as well as external consultants, to monitor site progress and secure implementable planning consents.

Land Acquisition

• Independently acquire land opportunities within a specified geographical area across England, while staying informed about development opportunities and competitor activities.
• Lead negotiations and formulate offers to secure land that meets the group’s requirements, ensuring alignment with annual budgets and forecasts.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of all technical aspects of land acquisition and development, including associated legal agreements.
• Develop expertise in legal issues related to contracts, joint ventures, and partnerships.
• Oversee projects from conditional contracts and options through to legal completion, liaising with internal departments to ensure a seamless acquisition process.
• Act as a liaison between the Land team and other internal departments to optimise opportunities and foster effective working relationships throughout the land acquisition process.

What You'll Need

• Membership in RICS, RTPI, CIOB, or qualifications such as Prince 2 or APM preferred, or an equivalent qualification with a route to membership.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in the development process, ideally with insight into affordable housing providers.
• Proven ability to meet challenging KPI targets and service standards within a commercial environment.
• Extensive project management experience, with a strong track record of delivering residential projects through the planning process across various local planning authorities.
• In-depth knowledge of development viability, financial appraisals, and the planning system, including policies and laws related to C2 and C3 planning use classes.
• Strong ability to manage consultant performance across multiple professional teams and develop professional relationships with external and internal stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive Salary: We offer a salary that reflects your skills and experience, ensuring you feel valued and rewarded for your contributions.
• Car Allowance: We provide a car allowance to support your role and responsibilities.
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 30 days of annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays, to ensure you have a balanced work-life experience.
• Pension Plan: Our company pension (Nest) plan is designed to secure your financial future.
• Professional Growth: We are committed to your ongoing development, offering opportunities for personal and professional growth within the company.
• Team Events & Days Out: We believe in celebrating our successes together, with regular team events and days out to foster a strong, cohesive team environment.

If you’re ready to make a significant impact in a rapidly growing company, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and why you’d be a great fit for this role to parhys.hodge@alderley-group.com.