Senior Planning Lawyer | Sheffield | Excellent Benefits
This is a rare opportunity for an experienced Planning Lawyer to join the legal team of one of the UK's largest and most recognisable organisations. Working within a highly regarded and sophisticated in-house legal function, you'll advise on major planning and infrastructure matters across an extensive and varied property portfolio, giving you exposure to fantastic work.
This is a genuinely strategic role where you'll work closely with senior stakeholders across property, estates, operations and public affairs, helping shape the future of a nationally significant estate.
The Opportunity
Joining an established Property & Planning legal team, you'll become the lead planning lawyer, taking ownership of a broad range of complex planning matters. You'll advise on everything from major development projects and nationally significant infrastructure schemes through to environmental matters, highways, compulsory purchase, planning enforcement and strategic land transactions.
The work is varied, high-profile and commercially focused, offering the chance to influence key business decisions while working alongside specialists across a large, full-service in-house legal team.
Typical work will include:
- Advising on complex planning and development projects
- Supporting acquisitions, disposals and strategic property initiatives
- Advising on planning applications, permitted development, heritage and biodiversity issues
- Managing responses to third-party developments affecting operational assets
- Compulsory purchase matters and settlement negotiations
- Highways agreements and statutory notices (including Section 106, Section 278 and Section 38 agreements)
- Planning enforcement and judicial review matters
- Environmental compliance and ESG-related legal support
- Working with senior business leaders to identify and manage legal risk
About You
We're keen to speak with qualified solicitors who have upwards of around 5+ years' PQE in planning law.
You may currently be a Planning Solicitor in private practice looking to move in-house, or be in-house planning lawyer seeking a broader, more strategic role. As you'll be the dedicated planning specialist within the team, you'll need the confidence to work autonomously while collaborating with colleagues across a wider legal function. Environmental law experience would be advantageous but isn't essential.
You'll join a large, highly regarded legal department covering an impressive range of specialisms. The Sheffield office is a significant legal hub for the organisation, making it a genuine centre of excellence rather than simply a regional office.
Package will include a competitive base salary (aligned with major law firms), car allowance, large employer pension contribution and private health care.
Location & Hybrid Working
The office is based in Sheffield with free on-site parking (subject to availability) and discounted parking nearby. Hybrid working is available - please get in touch to discuss.
Why Apply?
Opportunities like this rarely come to market. You'll gain exposure to high-value, complex planning work, while enjoying the commercial involvement that comes with a high-quality in-house legal role.
If you're looking to step away from billable hours without compromising on the quality or complexity of your work, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact Steve Shakespeare at Sacco Mann on 0113 467 9789.