We are looking to appoint a Principal Urban Designer within our Planning service.
The role will work across the Council, and the Planning Service in particular, to provide specialist advice on urban design in conjunction with new developments in the Borough.
The postholder will assist with planning policy preparation, preparing masterplans and guidance for applicants and playing a key role in discussions with site promoters on how sites may be brought forward. This work will contribute to the preparation of the Council’s new Fareham Local Plan 2044.
The role will advise on major and other significant planning applications and pre-application planning enquiries, and the post holder will be expected to have an in-depth knowledge of national design guidance and practice.
The postholder will also work across services as a corporate urban design resource working on priority projects such as business parks at Daedalus, sites and projects on behalf of Fareham Housing and corporate Leisure and Community proposals.
You will work to ensure appropriately detailed considerations are given to projects in order to meet the objectives of the adopted and emerging Local Plan, and also the Corporate Strategy and Corporate Strategy and associated Corporate Priorities and key projects.
You are a qualified urban designer and have considerable experience in a relevant role at a senior level. You will be skilled in graphic illustration, including digital formats such as AutoCAD.
You have demonstrable experience in providing urban design advice and are capable of working under your own initiative with limited management/ direction on a day-to-day basis.
Fareham Borough Council is a local authority for the area midway between Portsmouth and Southampton. Local Government services are split between Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council.
The Borough has a highly diverse character. It contains a number of urban settlements of varying size with many surrounded by countryside. The Meon Valley runs north-south through the centre of the Borough with the River Hamble marking the western edge of the Borough. Much of the southern edge of the Borough adjoins The Solent, which contains a number of habitat sites of national and international importance’ whilst the South Downs adjoin the northeastern side of the Borough.
Thirteen Conservation Areas are located around the Borough, along with approximately 600 listed buildings. The Town of Fareham contains a well preserved Georgian High Street with the village of Titchfield developed around a medieval core.
Notwithstanding the modest area of the Borough, there are a number of extensive and exciting development opportunities.
The northern part of the Borough contains the entirety of the Welborne Garden Village one of the largest housing led developments along the south coast. Welborne will ultimately provide for up to 6,000 dwellings, 105,000 square metres of employment floorspace and extensive supporting retail and community uses.
The southern edge of the Borough contains the historic Daedalus airfield which has been in aviation use for in excess of 100 years. As well as continuing as an active airfield, the site (which is within the Council’s ownership) is allocated for extensive employment floorspace (circa 80,000 square metres).
In September 2023, the Council purchased the Shopping Centre in the heart of Fareham. The regeneration of Fareham Town Centre is a high corporate priority.
Benefits of working for us
We are keen to enable those working for us to be individually empowered to do their job. This role will not only do this but will also provide an opportunity to gain broader experience in a wide range of development projects and to gain management experience.
In addition to this the Council offers the following employee benefits:
- Hybrid (office/ home) and flexible working opportunities
- Flexible working hours scheme
- An annual leave entitlement of 23 days (28 days for candidates with more than 5 years local government experience). In addition to this, you will be entitled to up to three additional days leave between Christmas and New Year.
- Ability to purchase 5 days of additional leave per year
- Authorised car parking
- Employee discounts
For more information please contact:
Lee Smith, Head of Planning ([email protected]) 01329 824427 or Peter Kneen, Team Leader (Development Management) ([email protected]) 01329 824363
