Planning Lawyer (NQ to 4 Years' PQE), Manchester

Salary: Competitive
Location: Manchester
Contract: Permanent, full time
Practice area: Real Estate / Planning & Infrastructure Consenting

The opportunity

A leading national law firm is looking for a Planning Lawyer to join its Planning & Infrastructure Consenting team in Manchester. You'll work on complex, high-profile planning, regeneration and infrastructure matters across the UK, with broad exposure to strategic advisory, transactional and contentious work. You'll work closely with leading partners and a diverse client base across the public and private sectors.

The team

The Manchester team has a strong local profile and is growing in development, regeneration and infrastructure work. It sits within a wider national practice with a leading presence across the UK. The team acts for national housebuilders, strategic land promoters, investors, retailers, universities, charities, local authorities, public bodies and joint venture vehicles. It advises on strategic land, major residential and mixed-use schemes, city centre regeneration, highways, compulsory purchase, nuclear, planning litigation and infrastructure consenting, including transport and energy-led schemes.

The role

Working as part of a collaborative national team, you will:

• Advise on planning strategy for major development and infrastructure projects across strategic employment, residential, commercial and mixed-use sectors
• Draft and negotiate section 106 agreements, highways agreements and other infrastructure documentation
• Support the promotion of compulsory purchase orders for local authorities and other acquiring authorities
• Advise on planning applications, development strategy and wider planning risk
• Assist with planning appeals, judicial review, statutory challenges and enforcement matters
• Work directly with clients and take ownership of key workstreams, with appropriate supervision

About you

You will be a solicitor qualified in England & Wales with between NQ and 4 years' PQE and experience in planning law. You are likely to have:

• A good grounding in town and country planning and highway law
• Experience drafting and negotiating planning and highways agreements, including section 106, section 278 and section 38 agreements
• Strong drafting skills, attention to detail and the ability to give clear, commercial advice
• The ability to manage matters or workstreams appropriate to your level and work effectively within a wider team
• Confidence building client relationships and taking increasing responsibility for client-facing work

Helpful, but not essential, is experience of (or an interest in developing experience in):

• Compulsory purchase
• Planning appeals, judicial review or statutory challenges
• NSIPs, DCOs or protective provisions

The firm

A highly regarded national firm with an inclusive, down-to-earth culture. It combines high standards with genuine care for its people, backs professional development, and puts strong client relationships at the centre of how it works. You'll get the platform for a career-defining move.

To find out more, get in touch with Joe Gregory at Think Legal Recruitment for a confidential conversation.
Email - joegregory@thinklegalrecruitment.com