Principal Design and Conservation Officer

Posted 05 August 2026
Salary 39.7
LocationLewisham SE13 United Kingdom
Job type Contract
Sector Engineering / Industrial
ReferenceOR111135

Job description

3 months contract with a local authority

Rate: £39.70 per hour Umbrella


Summary

  • This role involves leading the provision of specialist conservation, heritage, and urban design advice within a local authority on a 3-month contract. The position is crucial for ensuring the protection and enhancement of the historic environment across the borough. The successful candidate will play a key role in planning decisions, policy development, and regeneration projects, ensuring that heritage considerations are integrated into urban planning processes.

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.

Requirements

  • Significant experience in building conservation, heritage management, urban design, or planning.
  • Experience advising on listed building applications, conservation areas, heritage assets, and complex planning proposals.
  • Degree in Conservation, Historic Buildings, Town Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Heritage Management, or a related discipline.
  • Relevant professional qualification in a conservation, planning, architecture, or heritage-related field.
  • Membership of a relevant professional body such as IHBC, RTPI, RIBA, or equivalent.
Additional Information

  • Rate: £39.70 per hour Umbrella
  • Working hours: 28 hours per week
  • Temporary position for 28 hours a week to cover until permanent position filled.
  • Location: 1 Catford Road, Catford, London, Greater London, SE6 4RU, United Kingdom
  • Work pattern: 2 days in the office - typically Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • Bi-weekly payment schedule.
  • Enhanced DBS required.
  • The role closes on 10th August 2026, apply ASAP.