Urban Design Research Officer - 21 hours per week
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team of experienced multi-disciplinary professionals and help make places that support a flourishing World Heritage City.
Bath Preservation Trust is a leading architecture, planning and conservation charity advocating for sustainable development and design excellence which enhances the amenity of Bath and enables the city to thrive now and in the future. Our aim is to influence planning and placemaking so that it creates vibrant, inclusive, and environmentally responsible communities.
The conservation of the historic environment is fundamental for the city, but there is also the need for sustainable development and growth. BPT is central to balancing these needs and has been providing informed advice, guidance and consultation responses to planning strategies, development proposals and planning applications for more than 90 years.
We facilitate meaningful dialogue between developers, communities, designers and decision makers to create sustainable, imaginative, and socially supportive places. Our goal is to enrich the built and natural environment through thoughtful, collaborative design.
We are looking for someone with a passion for good design who can add value to development proposals, strategic projects and placemaking at every scale and in sensitive settings.
To apply for the role, please send your CV and a covering letter to [email protected]
Your covering letter should be no more than 2 sides of A4 and summarise your interest in the role and match with the person specification.
Closing date: 9.00am, Monday 6th July 2026
About the Organisation
Bath Preservation Trust campaigns for and promotes the conservation, sustainable enhancement and celebration of the unique historic built environment and amenity, green setting and global contributions of the City of Bath as a World Heritage Site. At our heart are the principles of equity, informed advocacy, social responsibility and growth through learning and creativity.
We use our advocacy and campaigning skills to include residents throughout the Bath area in creating a shared sense of place, as an enabler of contemporary change and carrying our unparalleled heritage into the future, creatively, sensitively and collaboratively.
Job purpose
This role is central to the organisations ability to maintain and deliver best practice in conservation, planning, placemaking, heritage and environmental management. Bath and North-East Somerset (B&NES) council is a very busy Local Planning Authority and is frequently amongst the top 20 busiest LPAs in the country. The Urban Design Research Officer will use systems adeptly and dynamically to assist the processing of proposals and strategic projects and to inform written responses to planning applications, working with professional staff and a team of volunteer advisors.
You will be responsible for leading the activities of the Architecture Planning & Place committee and subgroups. This is a unique role that combines strong inter-personal skills, sector knowledge, a keen attention to detail and the ability to interpret plans and documents.
Working with multi-disciplinary advisors, internal teams and external stakeholders you will help to shape better places, gaining insights into exciting new developments. As well as undertaking research across multiple projects, there will be the opportunity to experiment with the appropriate use of emerging technology to facilitate and enhance the research process.
You will also be responsible for responding to enquiries from members and the public as required.
Terms
Location: Schoolhouse, Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, Paragon, Bath BA1 5NW Reports to: Design, Conservation and Sustainability Manager Contract: Part time, 0.6 FTE – 21 hours per week. Permanent following satisfactory completion of six-month probationary period. Salary: £32,000 (£17.58 per hour) per annum, pro rata. Actual salary £19,200.
Benefits of working for Bath Preservation Trust
· Positive, collaborative, inclusive working culture
· 35 hour working week
· Flexible working hours
· Flexible working arrangements (subject to agreement and requirements of the job)
· 34 days annual leave (including public holidays)
· Employee Assistance Programme
· Group life cover
· Higher than statutory minimum company sick leave
· Cycle to Work scheme
· 0% loans for public transport season tickets
Key Responsibilities
Planning Analysis and Response:
· Provide and coordinate specialist advice on development proposals, pre-application discussions in relation to conservation, planning and design.
· Review, assess and evaluate planning applications against planning policy, and all relevant considerations including design, sustainability and heritage.
· Coordinate expert advice on development and placemaking, proposals and planning strategies which contribute to heritage management and placemaking projects.
· Where required, attend on site to discuss design issues with applicants and their agents or builders.
· Skill in finding creative and innovative solutions that avoid or minimize harm and deliver public benefits.
· Use AI-driven tools to extract, analyse, and summarise key data from planning documents.
Research & Evidence Base:
· Independently lead on preparing, shaping, and progressing research on placemaking best practices, urban design, and urban planning and conservation policies, using this to inform responses and Position Statements.
· Track projects, including development sites and reviewed proposals to assess impact and build record of case studies.
· Undertake the analysis of primary and secondary information; organising and presenting data and findings in an accurate and concise way.
· Produce visual maps, graphs, infographics and well-structured reports with a considered, high design quality.
· Contribute to the preparation of design policy in any future review of BPT polices and position statements.
· Maintain filing systems and databases as required.
Stakeholder Engagement:
· Prepare clear, persuasive responses to planning consultations, working with other staff and advisors as appropriate.
· Liaise with development teams, planning agents, architects and PR companies to invite important projects to engage with.
· Liaise with LPAs to engage with policy, strategy & guidance reviews
· Provide high quality professional advice to Members, agents, developers and the public on all aspects of planning, conservation, and design.
· Deliver presentations to teams, project collaborators, clients and stakeholders.
Reporting & Documentation:
· Produce reports, briefing notes, and presentations for internal and external audiences, including the use of infographics to improve accessibility.
· Ensure all outputs meet organisational standards for accuracy and clarity.
· Identify opportunities to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.
· Seek creative ways to use AI which might add value to BPT’s A&C work.
· Undertake and present impact reporting.
General
· The job holder is required to follow and comply with all policies and procedures of BPT, which includes the Health and Safety procedures in the workplace, ensuring personal safety and the safeguarding of the interests and safety of all staff, trainees, visitors, and others at or engaging with BPT.
· To uphold the working values and expectations of BPT.
· To carry out other duties relevant to your post as reasonably required by your line manager.
Person Specification
E = essential criteria, D = desirable criteria
Education & Knowledge
E - A degree or diploma in Urban Studies, Urban Systems, Policy Studies, Planning, Architecture, Conservation, Landscape Urban Design or other appropriate relevant qualification is essential.
E - At least 3 years relevant professional experience in a built environment, planning or urban design role, with experience of the town planning or development process.
E - Knowledge of understanding of development processes, planning legislation, policy and industry standards and regulations, townscape and urban design be––st practice.
D - A relevant post-graduate qualification in architecture, planning, urban design or associated field.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £19,200.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Flexitime
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
