Cost Planning and Commercial Lead

London or Basingstoke office - Hybrid (multiple locations)

As Cost Planning & Commercial Lead, you’ll play a critical role in supporting land acquisition, regeneration and new business opportunities, ensuring schemes are viable, cost-competitive and commercially robust from the earliest stages.

You’ll work closely with Land, New Business, Regeneration, Design and Technical teams, providing cost and risk insight across S106, land-led, JV and regeneration projects, typically ranging from £50m–£150m+.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide regional cost planning and commercial advice to support land bids and investment decisions
• Prepare and maintain detailed cost plans and viability appraisals from RIBA Stages 1–4
• Support feasibility studies with robust commercial and risk input
• Collaborate with design, technical, commercial teams and external consultants to deliver cost-effective, buildable solutions
• Lead value engineering, risk identification and mitigation across schemes
• Benchmark costs and maintain a library of rates and cost data
• Interpret drawings and specifications to produce cost schedules and budget estimates
• Ensure cost assessments reflect planning obligations and site-specific constraints

What We’re Looking For:

• Degree in construction, quantity surveying or built environment (or equivalent experience)
• Significant experience in cost planning / quantity surveying, ideally within a developer, housing association or PQS environment
• Proven experience delivering large-scale residential schemes (£50m–£150m+)
• Strong knowledge of brownfield, high-density and mixed-use developments
• Geotechnical and engineered foundation solutions
• Traditional and piled foundations (temporary and permanent works)
• Concrete frames, basements and remediation works
• Houses, apartments and MMC / alternative construction methods
• Proficient in cost planning software and commercial analysis
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and analytical skills

Why Join:

• Be part of a market-leading development programme with real social impact
• Work on complex, high-value residential schemes with long-term investment certainty
• Collaborative, values-led organisation with a strong commitment to quality and sustainability
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to influence how homes and communities are delivered across the UK

Please reach out to Jamie Fitch to discuss this opportunity further

jamie.fitch@goodmanmasson.com