The Land & Planning Director is one of the most senior roles within housebuilders, strategic land promoters, major estates and property developers. This position oversees both the land acquisition strategy and the planning function, ensuring the organisation secures high-quality development opportunities and successfully navigates the planning system.
Client-side Land & Planning Directors combine deep planning expertise with strong commercial leadership. They guide long-term land promotion, manage major development projects, shape planning strategy and work closely with executive teams to deliver growth targets.
Key Responsibilities
Leading land acquisition strategy and overseeing planning across all development sites.
Identifying new land opportunities and assessing planning risk and development potential.
Setting long-term planning strategy and overseeing major applications, appeals and negotiations.
Providing senior-level planning and land advice to executive leadership and board members.
Managing consultant teams across planning, transport, design, environmental and viability disciplines.
Driving Local Plan promotion, strategic growth strategies and long-term land interests.
Ensuring development proposals are commercially viable, deliverable and aligned with business objectives.
Overseeing masterplanning, concept design and strategic site visioning.
Typical Employers
National and regional housebuilders
Strategic land promotion companies
Major estates and landowning organisations
Property developers
Real estate investment firms
Salary Range
Land & Planning Director salaries typically range from £120,000 to £160,000+, depending on the scale of the organisation and land portfolio. Executive bonuses, car allowances and long-term incentive plans (LTIPs) are standard at this level.