Design and Planning Project Manager

Title: Design & Planning Project Manager

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £38,185 to £42,417 per annum dependent on experience

Grade: 7

Reporting Office: Stratford, London

Persona: Agile Worker: 20% - 40% of contractual hours to be

worked from reporting office/working location (hybrid working)

Role Profile - Design and Planning Project Manager.docx

Closing date for completed applications: 18th November 2025 at 11 PM

Benefits include:Excellent pension plan (up to 5% double contribution), 28 days Annual Leave rising to 31 days with length of service + Bank Holidays, Westfield Health Cash Plan, non-contributory life assurance, up to 21 hours volunteering paid days, lifestyle benefits, Employee Assistance Programme andmany more…

**Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the advertisement and interview earlier than stated.

Join our Design and Planning Team at L&Q!

Come and join the Design and Planning Team at L&Q where there is opportunity to work on bringing forward major, exciting residential developments and shape the design of new homes and communities we are delivering.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is looking to grow their housing and planning experience, project management skills, and work alongside skilled internal and external teams.

Reporting to the Senior Design and Planning Manager the successful candidate will project manage the design and planning process as directed to include appraising new development opportunities, obtaining planning permissions and adding value to existing permissions.

If this sounds like you, we would love for you to apply!

Your Impact in the Role:

• Planning & Design Management: Lead on the day-to-day project management of the planning application process and RIBA Stages 0–3 design development. Appoint and manage consultant teams, monitor budgets and programmes, and ensure quality control throughout.
• Strategic Project Delivery: Support the identification and assessment of new development opportunities. Research and appraise residential-led planning potential for inclusion in L&Q’s development programme.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external partners, including planning authorities, local authorities, consultants, and landowners, to secure viable and deliverable planning consents.
• Financial & Risk Control: Manage and report on project budgets, ensuring spend remains within approved limits. Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, escalating as needed.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure compliance with planning, health and safety, and governance procedures, maintaining accurate records and KPI reporting.
• Customer & Team Focus: Deliver excellent customer service in line with L&Q’s values, collaborating across teams to achieve shared goals and contribute to Annual Plan targets.

What you'll bring:

• Planning & Design Expertise: A strong understanding of the design and planning process within residential development, including experience preparing and submitting planning applications. An up-to-date understanding of national, regional and local planning policy and ability to appraise planning considerations for new development opportunities.
• Commercial & Analytical Skills: The ability to demonstrate financial and commercial acumen, with an understanding of how to achieve deliverable and cost-effective design outcomes.
• Stakeholder & Communication Skills: Excellent negotiation, influencing, and presentation skills, with experience building positive relationships internally and externally.
• Organisational & Project Management: Strong coordination and multitasking skills, able to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Customer & Values Focus: A commitment to customer satisfaction, collaboration, and delivering work that reflects L&Q’s core values – People, Passion, Inclusion, Responsibility, and Impact.
• IT Proficiency: Confident using Microsoft Office and relevant business systems.
• Professional Knowledge: A 2:1 accredited degree or higher, or a professional qualification in land, property, or planning (RTPI-accredited). (preferable)

We look forward to reviewing your application, and hearing about the genuine experiences and skills you could bring to our organisation. L&Q reserve the right to not accept statements that exceed 500 words.

About L&Q:

We’re one of the UK’s leading housing associations and developers. We were founded on a simple belief: high quality housing is vital for people’s health, happiness and security. Everyone deserves a quality home that gives them the chance to live a better life.

250,000 people call our properties ‘home’, and we’re proud to serve diverse communities across London, the South-East and North-West of England.

At L&Q, people are at the heart of our business and our success depends on employing the best people and getting the best from them. The foundation of everything that we are is built on our corporate values and behavioural framework, which outlines our core expectations and should be demonstrated at all times, and all levels, when representing L&Q.

L&Q strongly believe a diverse and inclusive workforce is important, and inclusion is part of our core values and everyday working practices. We make hiring decisions based on your experiences, skills and merits and we are recognised externally for our commitment to inclusion. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident (Committed) employer and have signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge to demonstrate our commitment to end mental health discrimination in the workplace. Click here to read more.

If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage during this process, including application stage, please email lqcareers@lqgroup.org.uk

At L&Q, sustainability is at the heart of what we do. We recognise the responsibility we hold as one of the UK’s largest housing associations.

Click here to find out more about L&Q and why you should join us!