Planning Manager
Employer: Sport England
Location: Homeworking - preferably either based in South East or North West
Salary: £47,000 per annum
Closing date: 14 Apr 2026
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Sport England is currently recruiting for two roles in its In-house Planning Team. Planning Manager in its local delivery team (preferably either based in South East or North West) and a Planning Manager (Policy & tools).
Sport England is an arm’s length body of government, established by Royal Charter in 1972. We’re responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport and helping more people get active across England. A core part of our role is working through the planning system to protect playing fields, influence better places, and ensure communities have access to the spaces and facilities they need to be active.
We currently have a statutory responsibility to protect playing field sites and also to engage with the local plan process, to deliver a wider ambition to help shape environments, protect, provide and enhance facilities to make it easier to be active in their everyday lives. We’re now evolving how we do this – moving towards a more strategic, plan led and digitally enabled planning service that works more proactively with local authorities and partners.
We are looking for Planners who are Chartered Members of the RTPI, with post chartership experience gained in a local authority, consultancy, government body, statutory consultee or similar organisation. If you are interested in Planning Manager (Policy & Tools) role, please visit the advert and application which is listed separately on our website.
In the Planning Manager (Local Delivery) role you will use a blend of development management skills and policy development on a day-to-day basis, coupled with relationship management to:
Support Sport England’s statutory role in protecting playing fields through the planning system, working with partners such as the ECB, RFU, LTA and other national governing bodies of sport
Work proactively with local authorities through our new remit on local plans, influencing policy and supporting the evidence base through playing pitch strategies and strategic site engagement
Support our wider place based and capital investment work by providing planning advice and influencing policy that supports active environments and everyday physical activity, not just formal sport
These roles offer a rare opportunity to build a broad, high impact planning career, whether through hands on local delivery, working directly with local authorities on applications, plans and place-based outcomes, or through national policy, tools and guidance, shaping how the planning system supports sport and physical activity across England. In both roles, you’ll gain end to end experience of the planning system, from local decision making to national policy and standing advice, while working as a statutory consultee with real influence. You’ll be exposed to government, local authorities, National Governing Bodies and major partners, and develop skills in strategic planning, evidence led decision making, active environments and data enabled planning. Together, these roles offer a flexible pathway to grow professionally, deepen expertise and shape the future direction of planning for sport and physical activity.
Both roles sit within a planning service that is changing how it works — moving towards a more plan led, digitally enabled and impact focused approach, while maintaining strong local delivery.
About Us
At Sport England, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity – regardless of age, gender, background, bank balance or post code. We are an arm’s length body responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport and helping more people get active across England – around two thirds of our funding comes from players of The National Lottery, with the remainder coming from the Exchequer.
Our work is driven by Uniting the Movement, a 10-year strategy focused on tackling inequalities and creating positive experiences of sport and physical activity for all. From funding local community initiatives to influencing national policy, we work in partnership with organisations and individuals who share our vision of an active nation where everyone feels able to take part and be active in a way that works for them.
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