7 Things Shaping Land, Planning & Development Hiring Right Now

Insights from the deverellsmith Salary Guide & Trends Report 2026

After a turbulent period of regulatory disruption and cautious capital deployment, the development sector is finding its footing again. Here's what's shaping hiring across Land, Planning & Development right now.

1. Hiring is recovering after a period of regulatory disruption

The past 12 to 18 months have been defined by uncertainty. New building safety regulations stalled planning activity, delayed projects, and led to short-term reductions in headcount across the sector. As that regulatory landscape has become clearer, confidence has started to return. Recent months have seen renewed demand for technical and design-focused roles, signalling a cautious unlocking of development pipelines and the beginning of a more stable hiring environment.

2. London and major cities are leading the recovery

The recovery has not been uniform. London and other major cities, where large-scale residential and tower schemes are more prevalent, bore the brunt of regulatory disruption and are now seeing the most visible signs of recovery. Regional markets, typically characterised by smaller and lower-rise developments, experienced less disruption in the first place and have maintained more stable hiring patterns throughout. For employers and candidates alike, geography continues to matter.

3. Salaries are stable, with one notable exception

Despite increased activity, pay levels across development have remained broadly flat. Most moves are resulting in like-for-like packages or modest uplifts rather than significant salary jumps. The exception is at entry and assistant level, particularly in London, where salary expectations have risen meaningfully. Cost-of-living pressures and the higher baseline needed to attract early-career talent into development roles are pushing up pay at the junior end of the market.

4. Candidates are prioritising security over salary

Candidate behaviour has shifted. Professionals are no longer moving primarily for pay. Instead, job security, project visibility, and the strength of an employer's pipeline have become the key decision-making factors. Ongoing market uncertainty has made candidates more risk-averse, and reassurance around funding, delivery timelines, and long-term stability is now essential to securing commitment from strong candidates.

5. Senior hiring requires creativity and flexibility

At the senior level, attraction and retention remain genuinely difficult. Long-term incentive plans, deferred bonuses, and carried interest continue to anchor senior talent in their current roles, making external moves more complex and costly. Employers hiring at this level need to think creatively, whether through sign-on incentives, guaranteed compensation, or bespoke package structures. A one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to land the best people.

6. Cradle-to-grave experience and JV knowledge are in demand

Employers are placing a growing premium on candidates with end-to-end development experience, reflecting both the complexity of current pipelines and a desire to reduce risk through fewer handovers. Intermediate-level development and project managers capable of strengthening delivery without significantly increasing headcount costs are particularly sought after. Joint venture experience has become a meaningful differentiator, as has broader operational real estate knowledge as strategies shift towards refurbishment, mixed-use, and living asset classes.

7. Total reward and pipeline visibility will define the competition for talent

Looking ahead, sentiment is cautiously positive. Hiring activity is expected to continue improving as stalled schemes progress, though salary growth is likely to remain modest. As confidence returns and competition for talent intensifies, the employers best placed to win will be those who can demonstrate stability, offer meaningful project exposure, and articulate a credible long-term vision. Total reward, clear progression pathways, and visible pipeline strength will be the deciding factors.

For full salary data and hiring trends across Land, Planning & Development, download the deverellsmith Salary Guide & Trends Report 2026.

About the Author

Chris Litras | Director, Real Estate Investment, Development & Construction

Chris is a Director in the Real Estate executive search practice, responsible for group strategy and management of senior search mandates internationally. He has over 14 years of experience in the industry, overseeing the service offering across Real Estate Investment, Development & Construction divisions. With a wealth of knowledge in his sector, he is well versed in talent identification and attraction advisory.