Regional Director - (Planning & Environment) - West Country

About the role

The Regional Director (Planning & Environment) for the West Country is a senior leadership position within Bondstones, a specialist rural planning and architectural consultancy. This role forms part of a structured growth plan to expand Bondstones from a specialist South West practice into a national consultancy.

Responsibilities

• Leading and growing rural planning and environmental consultancy work across the West Country.
• Providing strategic advice on planning, environmental constraints, development opportunities, risk and commercial viability.
• Overseeing planning applications, prior notifications, certificates of lawfulness, appeals and related submissions.
• Advising on rural permitted development matters, including Class Q, Class R and agricultural development.
• Supporting clients with business development, rural diversification, tourism, health and wellness, leisure, hospitality, equestrian, renewable energy and land-based development projects.
• Managing pre-application discussions, planning negotiations and responses to local planning authority and statutory consultee queries.
• Working with external specialists where required, including ecologists, landscape consultants, heritage consultants, drainage consultants and transport consultants.
• Helping to grow Bondstones' planning and environmental service lines through the Stepping Stones™ framework.
• Supporting recruitment, mentoring, training and team development across the region.
• Reviewing technical work before issue to clients or submission to local planning authorities.
• Developing new client relationships and converting suitable enquiries into fee-paying instructions.
• Supporting business growth, operational improvement and profitability across the region.
• Representing Bondstones professionally with clients, consultants, local authorities, environmental bodies and other stakeholders.

Requirements

• Strong planning-led rural property, land-use or development consultancy experience.
• A sound understanding of the English planning system.
• Knowledge of environmental considerations affecting rural development.
• A good understanding of rural property, agriculture, estates and land-use issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence in client-facing and stakeholder-facing roles.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of project scope, fee recovery and risk management.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and lead projects effectively.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach.
• Leadership capability and an interest in developing teams.
• The ability to identify opportunities and convert suitable enquiries into professional instructions.
• Professional judgement and a high standard of integrity.

Qualifications

• MRTPI, MRICS or eligibility for professional qualification.
• Private practice planning consultancy experience.
• Experience of Class Q, Class R and rural permitted development.
• Experience advising farmers, landowners, estates or rural businesses.
• Appeal experience.
• Experience managing, mentoring or leading professional teams.
• Knowledge of environmental planning, ecology, biodiversity net gain, landscape, sustainability or land management issues.
• A background in rural property, estate management, agriculture or land use.
• Experience generating new business and developing client relationships.
• Experience helping to build a team, department or service line.