Land Manager

The department is responsible for all land and development matters across my company’s regeneration portfolio. This entails acquisitions, planning and development delivery.

For acquisitions it would be managing the financial appraisals, which involves deriving and evolving all the assumptions which underpin the financial model. This corresponds with a scheme design which will be optimised throughout the acquisition process - the extent of optimisation is subject to the scale of the site. This requires management and liaison with the consultant team to develop the scheme whilst in simultaneity ensuring it concords with the Business Plan.

I’m currently working on a very large strategic planning application which encompasses a variety of interrelated actions. The majority of time is spent managing and instructing an extensive consultant team. This entails organising and managing design workshops, local authority meetings and assembling critical information to progress the planning application together with the business plan.

I really like the fact it’s an industry that is unique in its combination of intense commercial focus with creating something tangible and real.

On large scale sites the business plan and overall development proposition is complex. It is an intellectual challenge - there are many interlinked variables and specialisms that have to work together to achieve a commercially successful scheme.

Aside from the commerciality, the end result is the creation of a place where people and families will live. The creation of a successful place is rewarding – and this is reliant on the right design and planning approach.

Since I was very young I’ve had a fascination with the built environment and its various forms. I was also interested in the commercial means to which places are created, not the detailed technical specialisms such as architecture and engineering, but what I have discovered to be land buying and development!

I did BSc Urban Planning at University College London. I think this helped with regard to my CV however any degree relating to economics, the built environment or human geography would help. Thereafter I’ve learnt it’s all about having a hard-working, dynamic and positive attitude.

I strongly think you need a fundamental interest or passion for this field of work. It can be a tough and challenging line of work and it’s the interest and passion which propels you through!

I work for the Land division within Strategic Projects. We acquire strategic sites across the South of England, promoting them to Local Planning Authorities with the aim of achieving housing allocations and to obtain optimal planning consents for residential-led development. Through the planning process, we promote and design schemes placing a great emphasis on delivering high quality through utilising best practise place making principles.

Assist with the planning promotion of large strategic sites, reporting to the Planning Director. This involves the management of consultant teams, including master planning, transport/highways, ecology, landscaping, political, heritage, services/utilities, and geotechnical.
Assist with putting together planning applications for large strategic sites, including design.
Assessing the feasibility of new land opportunities which are presented to Strategic Projects, as well as negotiating for the acquisition of additional land surrounding our existing sites.
Putting together bids/proposals for new land opportunities working closely with the Land Director and Group Land & Planning Director.
Carry out development appraisals, usually in the form of a residual land value appraisal based on the proposed structure of acquisition.

Every project is different. Each project has its own challenges, opportunities, and risks. Managing these with the aim of securing optimal outcomes for the company is an exciting challenge.
Being able to be part of the planning process where there is an opportunity to assist in designing new sustainable places to live which people will be proud to call home is a really fulfilling aspect of my role.
It is exciting to analyse potential new land opportunities, as ultimately these are what will contribute to the company’s long term success.
In this role I am gaining extensive experience in the construction industry. The learning curve is steep and diverse, meaning that the role is never routine or mundane.

I wanted to work in an industry where there is the opportunity to create/change the built environment in a positive and sustainable way. In a world where environmental issues are focused stringently upon, the industry has the opportunity to help sustainably develop the future built environment. Through clever design solutions, and forward thinking planning, it is possible to create sustainable, cutting edge developments.
This career provides the opportunity to regenerate previously run-down, deprived, or unused areas and the potential to breathe life into local communities with carefully planned, exciting developments.
House building is an exciting industry, and the projects you have the opportunity to work on are diverse.
This career involves constant communication and networking with people, both internally and externally from the company. There is the opportunity to work with a wide range of people, whether they are agents, planning officers, local councillors/politicians, landowners, technical consultants or architects. Every project is run as a team, and involves working with a set of people with a diverse skillset, and this is a great part of the job.

I required at the least an undergraduate degree. In my case I obtained a BSc (hons) Economics degree, however there are many fields of study which could lead to a career in this job such as Planning, Geography, Law, Politics, and Engineering to name but a few.
A mandatory requirement was a degree level qualification in Planning. In my case this was obtained through an MSc in Planning, Design and Development.
Developers are generally seeking students who have a good academic record, a genuine interest in the industry, as well as the key skills required to manage large scale projects with big budgets.
A demonstration of strong communication skills is very important, so previous work experience to help develop your skills certainly will help you in getting a job in this industry.

Don’t be shy! If you are keen in finding out more about the industry, actively seek out work experience with developers, as generally there are not many advertised opportunities for internships.
Go for it! House building is an exciting industry, and now is a great time to be working within it. There is a genuine need for new homes in the UK, and a shortage of people to help deliver them. There is cross-party political support for more housing, and it is becoming an increasingly important political topic. There are great career progression opportunities, making it a lifetime career and not just a job!

I work in the Development department which is an amalgamation of Land, Planning and Design departments. Each department liaises with each other via the Development department from the point of identifying a potential site. Together they discuss and analyse the suitability of the site, the design of the scheme and work together during the planning permission process.

I am currently on my company’s rotational Graduate Scheme. Over the past 6 months I have predominately spent my time in the Planning department and have assisted the Land Buyers in completing planning appraisals, producing reports, attending planning committees and making visits to potential sites, determining their planning viability. Part of my day-to-day role involves liaising with other departments to collect all details needed to complete Non-Material Amendments and liaising with Local Authority.

I enjoy taking responsibility for a project or task and in doing so establishing a rapport and relationship with numerous internal and external players. Following a project from commencement to completion is really rewarding. The variation of tasks that my role offers is really exciting. In my department it is often required to deal with queries relating to historical developments which is often challenging and requires a keen eye for detail. When you have resolved the query and come to a conclusion it is really satisfying.

I have been enthusiastic about property from a young age, from the point of building mansions out of Lego to watching Grand Designs or reading the local property newspaper. At school I became more interested in the markets and politics surrounding housing which encouraged me to focus my BA Geography dissertation on Housing markets and then study for my MSc. During my MSc I especially enjoyed the logic that was required for Planning, from establishing the policy documents that could determine not only the likelihood of a site achieving planning permission but what could be built on that site and fundamentally, the role planning plays in adding value to a site and determining what’s built where.

I don’t know if a specific degree was required but I believe my RICS accredited MSc in Planning, Design and Development from UCL definitely helped.

Gain an accredited degree, the knowledge from this alone will help you at interview.
In regards to planning, there are various planning committees that can be attended by the public in your Local Authority, the experience from these alone can provide a talking point at interview and provide you with invaluable knowledge of how the system works.
Gain some experience be it a week in Local Authority or a summer scheme with a consultancy. I didn’t have any experience and reflecting back on my interview, despite being fortunate enough to receive a job offer, I think this could have really helped as it gives your degree knowledge a practical context.
If you haven’t already done so, when possible, focus your major research project/dissertation on something that relates to the house building industry. There are not many opportunities to spend 3-6 months researching a specific topic and in doing so you gain knowledge of the policy, legislation and guidance around this subject that can inform elements of your career.
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