Planning & Annexe Specialist
The Role
At Green Retreats, we're passionate about creating exceptional spaces and delivering an experience that matches the quality of our products. As our Planning & Annexe Specialist, you'll play a key role in helping customers navigate one of the most important stages of their journey with us.
You'll become the trusted expert for all planning and annexe enquiries, guiding customers, supporting colleagues and managing planning applications from start to finish. From preparing plans and documentation to liaising with local authorities, you'll ensure every application is handled accurately, professionally and within agreed timescales.
You'll work closely with our Sales, Design and Customer Care teams to provide expert advice, remove barriers for customers and continually improve our planning processes. As the department develops, you'll also help build knowledge across the business by supporting training and sharing best practice with the wider team.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys combining technical knowledge with excellent customer service, whilst taking ownership of a specialist area that is fundamental to our continued growth.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Experience
- Act as the primary point of contact for customers requiring planning permission or annexe guidance.
- Provide clear, confident and accurate advice throughout the planning process.
- Keep customers regularly updated on the progress of their application.
- Manage customer expectations, offering proactive communication and timely responses.
- Deliver a first-class customer experience from initial enquiry through to planning outcome.
Planning Management
- Prepare, coordinate and submit planning applications on behalf of customers.
- Produce or coordinate planning drawings, supporting documents and application packs.
- Monitor application progress and ensure deadlines are met.
- Liaise with local planning authorities, responding to requests for additional information promptly and professionally.
- Manage amendments, revisions and planning conditions where required.
- Maintain accurate records and documentation within internal systems.
Technical Support
- Provide planning and annexe expertise to the wider business.
- Advise Sales Consultants on planning requirements and likely outcomes.
- Support the design team with planning-related queries.
- Stay up to date with changes to planning legislation, permitted development rights and annexe regulations.
- Identify opportunities to improve planning processes and customer documentation.
Team Development
- Become one of our internal experts for planning and annexe projects.
- Support the development of planning guidance, documentation and internal resources, alongside the planning team leader.
- Deliver training and coaching to colleagues as the department grows.
- Share knowledge and best practice across the wider business.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who enjoys taking ownership, thrives on organisation and has a genuine passion for helping customers through what can often feel like a complex process.
You'll be approachable, detail-oriented and able to communicate technical information in a simple, reassuring way. You'll enjoy building relationships with customers, councils and colleagues alike, always striving to find the best possible outcome.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Excellent organisational and project management skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Confident using Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
- Customer-focused with a proactive, solutions-driven approach.
- At least 1 year experience using AutoCAD or similar
Desirable
- Knowledge of UK planning legislation and permitted development rights.
- Experience preparing planning drawings or working with architectural plans.
- Experience dealing directly with local planning authorities.
- Knowledge of residential annexes and outbuildings.
- Previous experience delivering training or mentoring colleagues.
What Success Looks Like
- Planning applications submitted accurately and on time.
- Customers feel informed and supported throughout their planning journey.
- Strong relationships with local authorities and internal teams.
- Fast response times to customer and council enquiries.
- High planning approval rates through well-prepared applications.
- Continuous improvements to planning processes and documentation.
- A knowledgeable sales team supported by expert planning guidance.
Why Green Retreats?
At Green Retreats, we're proud to be the UK's leading garden room company, designing and building exceptional spaces that transform how people live and work.
We believe the experience should be just as impressive as the product itself. That means supporting one another, continuously improving and always putting our customers first.
If you're looking for an opportunity to become the expert in a specialist field, influence how we work and help shape an outstanding customer journey, we'd love to hear from you.
· Full time, perm position Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
· £32,000 per annum
· Based at our flagship Westcott showroom
· 20 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
· Company pension with employer contribution.
· Employee Assistance Programme.
· My PERKS Scheme offering discounts on shopping, travel and entertainment.
· Enhanced maternity and paternity scheme
Pay: £32,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
