Development Manager

Berkeley Group builds homes and neighbourhoods across London, Birmingham and the South of England. We specialise in brownfield regeneration, reviving underused land to create unique, sustainable and nature-rich places where communities thrive and people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy a great quality of life.

Berkeley St Edward London is a key part of the Berkeley Group, and we deliver projects under both the Berkeley and St Edward brands. St Edward is a Joint Venture with M&G Investments.

Our central London projects include 9 Millbank, West End Gate and Trillium in Marylebone, Oval Village, and Parkside at Chelsea Bridge. The Outer London projects include Eden Grove in Staines and The Exchange Watford, Syon Lane in Osterley and North Street in Guildford.

The role

• Day to day project management on planning applications as well as optimisation planning applications on existing consents to increase the development potential.
• Work closely with the production and site teams on reducing and improving legal and planning risks.
• Prepare the relevant information and updates for weekly Project Review Meetings (PRM), and monthly Major Project Reviews (MPR).
• Build and maintain relationships with planning officers, local authority teams, and Residents’ Amenity Group/ Neighbours.
• Manage the tender process for appointing consultants for new projects.
• Work collaboratively with consultants and production teams to manage document requirements by using internal software (such as A-site), to comply with statutory requirements to maintain “Golden Thread” of information for fire safety purposes.
• Request quotations and manage the processing of invoices .
• Manage the public consultation process during pre-planning stage.
• Identify and engage with key stakeholders to influence planning and development strategies
• Work with other internal departments for the relevant expertise to be included into development strategies, due diligence, financial appraisals and internal approvals.
• Manage the tendering and analysis of affordable housing offers. Lead on completion of sale agreements to Registered Providers.
• Prepare development Cost Reconciliation reports and facilitate “Cost Rec” meetings.
• Negotiate S106 agreements and ongoing monitoring/completion of obligations.
• Updating planning condition and S106 obligation trackers and inform team members of all forthcoming milestones/deadlines.
• Monitor other planning and development sites nearby to advise the business on any potential competing projects as well as to create precedent on other planning and development matters / strategies.
• Monitor market conditions including residential, commercial and other sectors to make sure projects are designed and de-risked appropriately.
• Assist the upfront land team by assessing initial site feasibilities by running financial calculations of new site opportunities and conducting planning appraisals.
• Instruct architects to undertake feasibility appraisals and other consultants where required and/or seek further advice on specialist matters.

Skills, Knowledge And Expertise

• Experience working in a similar role with a UK-based property developer or planning consultancy.
• Understanding of the UK planning system, emerging planning and development policies and local/national political agendas.
• Experience working with greater London local authorities to achieve planning consent and/or manage ongoing developments.
• Experience managing consultant teams towards achieving the set programme.
• Appreciation/ understanding of construction processes and challenges with scheme delivery from a Land & Planning perspective.
• Ability to build successful relationships with departments within the wider business.
• Geographical understanding of London and emerging opportunity areas.
• Happy to work on a variety of tasks and projects at the same time, maintaining a calm and approachable presence even when under some pressure.
• Proactive, self-driven, results-oriented with a positive outlook.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, increasing with service to 33 days.
• Health and wellbeing benefits including Private Medical Insurance.
• Lifestyle benefits including access to an online discount platform.
• Berkeley Foundation volunteer day.
• Private pension plan.
• Group life assurance.

The standard default full-time working hours in the office are 8am-5pm with core working hours 9am-4pm.

Internal applicants:

If you’re an internal applicant, please ensure you’ve informed your line manager of your intention to apply for this position.