Director of Development and Regeneration
Walsall / Hybrid
Salary £110,000 - £120,000
Plus £10,000 car allowance and a competitive benefits package
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the role of Development and Regeneration Director, which is pivotal to whg’s success as we work towards delivering on the ambitions set out in Our 2030 Plan.
We’re now a third of the way through the plan, which is centred on six transformational programmes of work which includes Making Places – encompassing our strategic aims for development and regeneration. The goal, just in this strategic period alone, is to deliver at least 2000 high-quality, sustainable homes across the Midlands.
As our Director, you will lead the operational delivery of new homes through our talented and passionate team. Furthermore, you will provide a highly effective bridge between operational delivery and strategic direction; whilst playing a key role in key stakeholder engagement to deliver truly great place making!
We will work closely together in a no surprises culture, navigating operating environment risks and optimising opportunity in the smart deployment of our resources and partnerships (existing and yet to be formed).
More generally, it’s a very exciting time to become a member of our Directors’ Group and, alongside the Group Executive, lead our customer focused organisation.
We are in talks with Aspire Housing around a potential merger of our two organisations to create a new housing association with over 32,000 homes across the Midlands. Under the proposals, we aim to bring together the best from both organisations to provide excellent housing services, create more regional growth opportunities and build more affordable homes for people in local communities. And our new Director of Development and Regeneration will be central to these plans alongside your counterpart at Aspire.
We are already well-positioned to deliver a bold, innovative and impactful development programme, with sustainability at the heart. Your leadership in this role will not only help us achieve our targets but also shape the future of communities across the region.
You’ll be joining a supportive, values-driven organisation that embraces innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to sustainability, governance and excellence, we are proud to be dedicated to the success of our people and places - and we need someone with your expertise, energy and passion to help us go further.
If you’re ready to lead, collaborate, inspire and deliver change, you’ll find a range of information in this microsite to help you learn more.
Warm regards
Rebecca Bennett Casserly
Corporate Director of Development, whg
Making places
We believe an ambitious approach to development and regeneration is essential and we are committed to playing our part in tackling the national housing shortage.
With over 1.3 million households on social housing waiting lists, the UK faces a critical shortage of affordable homes. At whg, we’re tackling this head-on by delivering high-quality homes and regeneration projects that transform communities. Our strong performance in delivering our last development strategy saw us named by Inside Housing as one of the country's biggest housing association builders for three consecutive years.
We believe an ambitious approach is essential if we – the social housing sector – are to build anything like the number of affordable homes that are needed. Partnering with Homes England, the WMCA and local authorities, and private developers, we maximise funding and resources to make a real difference. Together, we’re creating sustainable, affordable housing and revitalising areas where people can truly thrive.
Current and recent projects include:
- Grade II listed Nightingale House and the Royal Quarter, Wolverhampton
- Brownfield regeneration at Lockside, Walsall
- 1,000 new homes in Goscote, Walsall
- Shared ownership and affordable housing in Stratford-upon-Avon
During 2025/26 we delivered 270 new homes, investing £51.9m across 20 sites to build safe, energy-efficient and affordable homes.
Find out more about how we are Making Places in Our 2030 Plan and our Development and Regeneration Strategy.
£51.9 million
invested in development on schemes completed in 2025/26
270 homes
built across 20 sites in 2025/26
51 homes
built for first-time buyers through shared ownership in 2025/26
Why whg?
We are a regional housing association with 22,000 homes owned and managed across the Midlands. We started life in Walsall, where most of our homes are, and it is still the place that anchors us to our communities. This approach is echoed in our work across the region.
More than just a landlord, we are a proud champion of our places, working with our partners to secure future prosperity through regeneration, place shaping, community investment and improving wellbeing.
In December 2024 following an inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing, we were delighted to maintain our Governance (G1) and Financial Viability (V1) ratings. We also achieved a C1 in the new Consumer Standard – giving us the highest available rating in each category.
Environmental sustainability runs through everything that we do. We will ensure we are enhancing local areas, driving a commitment to green practices through our supply chain and positively contributing to long-term societal change.
None of what we do would be possible without the dedication of our 850 colleagues. We promote an inclusive and empowering culture; we are committed to being a great employer that supports our people to develop their professional skills and knowledge.
Our customer satisfaction scores continue to rise, and we have a firm foundation to build on as we continue working with customers to improve our services for them.
Our values
Our values set out a clear expectation of ‘how we do things around here’. They inform our decision-making and help shape our organisation.
Trustworthy
You can rely on us. We are honest in everything we do.
Respectful
Valuing people and treating everyone with empathy and fairness.
Accountable
Taking responsibility for our actions and owning the delivery of our promises.
Collaborative
Achieving great things by working together.
Excellent
Striving to be the best and delivering the best outcomes for customers and the organisation.
What’s in it for you?
We were recognised as a top employer by the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2026 for the third consecutive year, with our commitment to a great work-life balance and professional development opportunities highlighted.
We have high expectations for performance and delivery, and in return we recognise and reward excellence through our colleague benefits offer.
whg benefits
Hear from colleagues in our Development team:
Hear from colleagues in our Development team:
Inclusion & diversity
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion in principle and practice. We value and respect people regardless of background, culture or lifestyle, whether as a colleague, partner, or the diverse communities we serve.
We are growing an inclusive culture that values difference and encourages people to be their authentic selves. We want every colleague, customer and stakeholder to feel respected, valued and have a sense of belonging. Our inclusion aims are linked to our values, which were developed by our colleagues.
Our colleague voice network is open to all colleagues representing diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to shape and influence the way we work and to collaborate to identify areas of focus to continuously improve our wellbeing offer and how they are supported to deliver our services.
Read our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Apply now!
Director of Development and Regeneration
Walsall / Hybrid
Salary from £110,000 - £120,000
Plus £10,000 car allowance and a competitive benefits package
Are you ready to shape the future of housing and regeneration in the Midlands? Our new Director of Development and Regeneration will lead our talented team and play a pivotal role in delivering a significant development programme.
To succeed in this role you’ll be an excellent communicator with a proactive approach to managing risk and resources. Through building strong, successful partnerships with Homes England, the WMCA and local authorities, developers and key stakeholders, you will unlock opportunities to shape the future of housing and regeneration in the Midlands region.
This is a unique opportunity to:
- Influence and deliver innovative projects.
- Drive innovation in sustainability, place-making and building safety.
- Combine strategic vision with hands-on leadership to achieve real impact.
- Join a G1, V1, C1-rated organisation with a strong commitment to sustainability and community transformation.
As part of our Directors’ Group, you will also play a key role in shaping our wider organisational transformation, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the sector.
We’re looking for an experienced leader with a strong track record in housing or construction, exceptional relationship-building skills, and a passion for making a difference, who is ready to step up and deliver real impact.
If you’re ambitious, influential, and ready to drive change, apply today.
Closing date: 29 July 2026
Informal discussions are welcomed. To arrange a call with Rebecca Bennett Casserly, Corporate Director of Development, please email Margaret Osborne: margaret.osborne@whgrp.co.uk
This link will direct you to our recruitment website, to complete and submit your application. Thank you for your interest in this role.
