Company: Marks & Spencer
Location:
Job Description:
Overview
In this role you lead planning applications for M&S across the UK estate, coordinating internal teams and external consultants to secure timely approvals. You will liaise with authorities, landlords and developers to support acquisitions, store renewals and new developments. You’ll spot planning risks early and keep project teams informed with clear recommendations, while contributing to policy engagement and process improvements. This is an opportunity to shape our store network through proactive planning leadership.
Pay / Benefits
- 20% colleague discount across M&S products
- Competitive holiday entitlement
- Discretionary bonus schemes
- Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
- Tailored induction and training programmes
- Wellbeing support and resources
Responsibilities
- Lead planning applications across the UK estate and secure consents
- Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants on acquisitions, renewals, relocations and new stores
- Build and nurture relationships with planning authorities, landlords, developers and community stakeholders
- Identify planning risks and opportunities early; provide updates and recommendations to project teams and senior stakeholders
- Support the wider property strategy through planning policy engagement and process improvement
- Manage external consultants to ensure high-quality, cost-effective planning advice
Key requirements
- Proven experience managing planning applications in retail/property environments
- Strong knowledge of UK planning policy and development management
- Experience managing external consultants and ensuring value for money
- Excellent stakeholder management with councils, developers and project teams
- Commercial mindset balancing planning, operations and business objectives
- Strong communication and influence
- Proactive problem solving
- Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects
- Knowledge of the UK planning system and development process
- Experience with planning policy engagement and process improvement
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Posted: November 1st, 2026