Land, Planning & Development: What Candidates Need to Know About the Market Right Now
Aaron Higgins
Development hiring has been through a bumpy 18 months, shaped heavily by regulatory change and cautious capital deployment. Confidence is now returning, but not evenly, and what candidates want from their next role has shifted along the way. Here is what our 2026 Real Estate Salary Guide & Trends Report, combined with insight from our Workforce Sentiment Survey, tells us about where things stand.
1. Hiring is recovering, but London led the disruption
New building safety regulations initially stalled planning activity and led to project delays, with the impact felt most heavily in London and other major cities running large scale residential and tower schemes. Regional markets saw less disruption. If you are London based, it is worth knowing the recovery here has been more gradual, though renewed demand for technical and design focused roles is now signalling a cautious unlocking of pipelines.
2. Entry level salaries have moved, senior salaries have not
The clearest salary growth has been at entry and assistant level, particularly in London, reflecting cost of living pressures and the higher baseline needed to attract early career talent into development. Most other moves are resulting in like for like packages rather than significant uplift, so do not assume a lateral move alone will deliver a big pay jump right now.
3. Job security matters more than the number on the offer
Professionals are placing far greater weight on project visibility, funding confidence and the strength of an employer's pipeline than on salary alone. If you are weighing up a move, ask hard questions about delivery timelines and long-term stability before you say yes.
4. Cradle to grave experience is highly valued
Employers are increasingly prioritising candidates who can manage a project through its full lifecycle, reflecting both pipeline complexity and a desire to reduce risk through fewer handovers. If your experience spans the full process rather than one stage, make sure that comes through clearly on your CV.
5. Joint venture experience is becoming a real differentiator
As strategies shift towards refurbishment, mixed use and living asset classes, broader operational real estate knowledge alongside JV experience is setting candidates apart. It is worth highlighting this experience even if it was only part of a previous role.
6. At senior level, retention is about more than salary
Long term incentive plans, deferred bonuses and carried interest continue to anchor senior talent, which is why external moves at this level often require sign on incentives or guaranteed compensation. Our Workforce Sentiment Survey backs this up more broadly too, with 41% of professionals citing salary as their top priority, closely followed by work life balance, flexibility, culture and career development. Security and long-term opportunity are increasingly outweighing short-term salary gains across the board.
If you are exploring your next move in development, come armed with questions about pipeline, funding and long-term vision. That is what is driving decisions in this market right now.
About the Author
Aaron Higgins | National Head of Development & Construction
Aaron leads deverellsmith's Development & Construction division nationally, overseeing senior search mandates and strategic growth across the UK. With deep expertise in the built environment, he advises businesses on talent strategy across technical, delivery and leadership functions within residential and commercial construction.
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