Heritage & Urban Design Lead - 3-Month Contract

Civic Recruitment Limited; Lewisham; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Civic Recruitment Limited is seeking a Principal Design and Conservation Officer in Lewisham to lead specialist conservation, heritage, and urban design advice for a local authority on a 3-month contract. The role is central to protecting and enhancing the borough’s historic environment within planning decisions and regeneration projects.

The successful candidate will oversee conservation area appraisals, SPDs, Article 4 Directions, and heritage strategies while leading pre-application

Qualifications

• Degree in Conservation, Historic Buildings, Town Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Heritage Management, or related discipline.
• Relevant professional qualification in conservation, planning, architecture, or heritage-related field.
• Membership of a relevant professional body such as IHBC, RTPI, RIBA, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert conservation and urban design advice on complex planning applications, listed building applications, major developments, and regeneration schemes.
• Lead on heritage matters within the Strategic Planning Team, ensuring the historic environment is considered in planning decisions and policy development.
• Manage conservation area appraisals, conservation management plans, Article 4 Directions, heritage strategies, and supplementary planning documents (SPDs).
• Lead pre-application discussions and negotiations with developers, architects, consultants, and stakeholders to secure high-quality design outcomes.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, briefings, and presentations for Planning Committees, senior management, elected members, and other decision-making bodies.
• Represent the Council at Planning Hearings, Public Inquiries, court proceedings, and stakeholder meetings as an expert witness where required.

Skills

Heritage management

Urban design

Planning

Conservation experience

Education

Degree in Conservation or related field

Professional qualification in conservation/planning/heritage

Membership in IHBC/RTPI/RIBA or equivalent

Job description

Civic Recruitment Limited is seeking a Principal Design and Conservation Officer in Lewisham to lead specialist conservation, heritage, and urban design advice for a local authority on a 3-month contract. The role is central to protecting and enhancing the borough’s historic environment within planning decisions and regeneration projects.

The successful candidate will oversee conservation area appraisals, SPDs, Article 4 Directions, and heritage strategies while leading pre-application