Urban Design Officer
| Posting date: | 11 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £32,061 to £41,771 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 March 2026 |
| Location: | Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | North Somerset Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | HSCA0052 |
Summary
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Urban Designer to join our Heritage and Design Team. The Heritage and Design Team are responsible providing specialist advice for urban design, archaeology, built conservation, and heritage records as well as delivering significant heritage projects including the restoration of Birnbeck Pier.
The post holder will sit within the Heritage & Design Team in the Healthy & Sustainable Communities Directorate and will report to the Principal Urban Design Officer. They will also work closely with the other members of the Heritage & Design Team and other officers from within North Somerset Council (NSC).
In this role, you will be required to provide support to the Development Management process, including advising planning case officers and negotiating with applicants; to advise on major council infrastructure and development projects; and to take an active role in the delivery of the Placemaking strategies.
You will be educated to degree level and have previous relevant urban design experience. This post is being offered on a career grade to encourage the widest range of applicants, as attitude and potential is at least as important as years of experience. We anticipate being able to appoint at around Level 8 (£39,152) but if appointment/s are made at lower grades support will be provided for your progression.
Key Responsibilities:
To examine, process and evaluate urban design aspects of planning and related applications, including site inspections, negotiations, discharge of conditions and preparation of reports to the committee, or reports under the officer delegation arrangements.
Provide specialist urban design advice on planning applications—including major/pre-application stages, appeals, and post-application discussions—to secure quality outcomes through negotiation and thorough assessment
Advise on and contribute to the preparation of design policies, codes, supplementary planning documents, design briefs, and character statements for inclusion in Local Plan framework
Lead or support on council strategic projects (e.g. neighbourhood masterplans, public realm schemes, estate regeneration), working closely with multidisciplinary teams
Prepare clear, high-quality written reports, briefing notes for internal/external meetings and presentations, and public-facing documents
Represent the Council at professional and public forums—including design review panels, inquiries, and consultations—to advocate design excellence
About You
We are looking for an individual who is passionate about Urban Design, and who possesses the following skills and experience:
Qualifications & Experience
Degree (or postgraduate) in Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning, or related discipline
Demonstrable experience in urban design or built-environment roles—preferably within a local authority or public sector setting
Proven track record in advising on major or complex developments, and producing design briefs, guidance, or codes
Strong skills in report writing, graphic communication, presentations, and stakeholder engagement
Technical Skills
Competence in CAD/GIS tools and urban design visualisation (e.g. city masterplans, character statements)
Good understanding of planning policy, conservation principles, sustainable design, and heritage context
Interpersonal Skills
Excellent communication and negotiation ability—able to liaise with developers, members, public, and colleagues alike
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to propose practical, policy-informed design solutions
Organised, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple tasks to deadlines
Contact Information
For further information about the role, please contact Kieran Oliver, Principal Urban Design Officer at kieran.oliver@n-somerset.gov.uk
The post holder will sit within the Heritage & Design Team in the Healthy & Sustainable Communities Directorate and will report to the Principal Urban Design Officer. They will also work closely with the other members of the Heritage & Design Team and other officers from within North Somerset Council (NSC).
In this role, you will be required to provide support to the Development Management process, including advising planning case officers and negotiating with applicants; to advise on major council infrastructure and development projects; and to take an active role in the delivery of the Placemaking strategies.
You will be educated to degree level and have previous relevant urban design experience. This post is being offered on a career grade to encourage the widest range of applicants, as attitude and potential is at least as important as years of experience. We anticipate being able to appoint at around Level 8 (£39,152) but if appointment/s are made at lower grades support will be provided for your progression.
Key Responsibilities:
To examine, process and evaluate urban design aspects of planning and related applications, including site inspections, negotiations, discharge of conditions and preparation of reports to the committee, or reports under the officer delegation arrangements.
Provide specialist urban design advice on planning applications—including major/pre-application stages, appeals, and post-application discussions—to secure quality outcomes through negotiation and thorough assessment
Advise on and contribute to the preparation of design policies, codes, supplementary planning documents, design briefs, and character statements for inclusion in Local Plan framework
Lead or support on council strategic projects (e.g. neighbourhood masterplans, public realm schemes, estate regeneration), working closely with multidisciplinary teams
Prepare clear, high-quality written reports, briefing notes for internal/external meetings and presentations, and public-facing documents
Represent the Council at professional and public forums—including design review panels, inquiries, and consultations—to advocate design excellence
About You
We are looking for an individual who is passionate about Urban Design, and who possesses the following skills and experience:
Qualifications & Experience
Degree (or postgraduate) in Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning, or related discipline
Demonstrable experience in urban design or built-environment roles—preferably within a local authority or public sector setting
Proven track record in advising on major or complex developments, and producing design briefs, guidance, or codes
Strong skills in report writing, graphic communication, presentations, and stakeholder engagement
Technical Skills
Competence in CAD/GIS tools and urban design visualisation (e.g. city masterplans, character statements)
Good understanding of planning policy, conservation principles, sustainable design, and heritage context
Interpersonal Skills
Excellent communication and negotiation ability—able to liaise with developers, members, public, and colleagues alike
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to propose practical, policy-informed design solutions
Organised, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple tasks to deadlines
Contact Information
For further information about the role, please contact Kieran Oliver, Principal Urban Design Officer at kieran.oliver@n-somerset.gov.uk
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.