Consultant / Senior Consultant in townscape and heritage

Who we are:

We are a leading specialist townscape and heritage consultancy formed by recognised professionals in the field. With the combined expertise and reputation of our team of 20, which includes architects, urban designers, town planners, heritage and conservation specialists, and building historians, The Townscape Consultancy is one of the largest and most experienced consultancies in the field.

What we do:

Our focus is on the development project in relation to the bigger picture: how it will relate to the buildings, routes, and spaces around it – not just in how it looks, but in how it functions too. In many cases, this will require paying particular attention to the historic environment.

Designing new buildings with townscape and heritage sensitivities in mind can be critical to gaining planning consent, and an important part of our role is to identify these sensitivities at an early stage. We aim to add value to the projects we work on – and we believe that great architecture and sound urban design add value. The review of designs by a ‘critical friend’, carried out in a positive spirit and at the right stages, can improve projects significantly.

We provide design advice, and townscape, heritage and visual impact assessments where these are required to support a planning application; and where necessary, we provide expert evidence in support of planning appeals.

Who you are:

We are open to applicants at a variety of levels of seniority, who have a relevant experience working as consultants in townscape and/or heritage. In exceptional circumstances, we would also welcome candidates from other related fields and we would provide in-house mentoring / coaching in the specific requirements of our work. Candidates with a minimum of c. 5 years’ experience in an architectural design background and other built environment backgrounds, such as urban design, building conservation, and planning, are likely to have appropriate transferable skills. Below is a list of key attributes:

  • A minimum of 2-3 years working as a townscape and/or heritage consultant (highly desirable);
  • Qualifications and experience in the built environment sector: architecture, urban design, planning, historic environment;
  • A high standard of written English;
  • Agood understanding of architectural design and architectural history;
  • If not trained in design, an ability to recognise and discuss design quality;
  • Critical / analytical ability;
  • Ability to collaborate within a team environment;
  • Ability to meet tight deadlines to high standards of work quality;
  • Has the right to work in the UK (we are not able to sponsor visas); and

Job description:

1. Townscape and heritage consultancy casework, including:

  • Advising clients and design teams on design development for new proposals, relationship of new development to existing townscape / historic context / conservation areas / listed buildings, effect on settings, etc.;
  • Working with architects and visualisation specialists to analyse site contexts, identifying viewpoint locations, providing commentary and advice on visual impact;
  • Working with planning consultants and clients, providing advice on and preparation of planning applications and listed building consent applications;
  • Report writing for the planning application stage, including:
    • Reports for Environmental Statements (ES): townscape and visual impact assessment reports, built heritage reports, etc.; and
    • Report writing (non-ES): townscape reports, heritage reports, certificate of immunity reports, planning appeals, listing cases, etc.; and
  • Attending site visits and meetings, generally in London, but with the possibility of involvement in projects outside London.

2. Managing projects, including:

  • Managing the smooth running of your projects, including responsibility to manage the budget, project log, coordinating attendance at meetings, issuing documents to clients and design teams, etc.;
  • Managing communications with other consultants, visualisation specialists, architects, etc. as required;
  • Working with directors to coordinate their input into the projects you manage;
  • Working with Junior Consultants to delegate and oversee their input into projects;
  • Working with the Operations Manager to instruct on monthly invoicing for your projects; and
  • You may be required to support colleagues in undertaking general office / administrative tasks as part of your work.

Office and hybrid working:

Generally, you will be required to work from our office at 100 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5NQ, but we have a hybrid work mode whereby members of the team can also work from home on a regular basis. This is agreed on a case-by-case basis, prioritising flexibility to meet projects’ and clients’ needs; the majority of your work hours will however be expected to be office-based.

Benefits:

We have a generous benefits package, which includes discretionary annual bonuses, a company pension scheme, private medical insurance, an income protection scheme, a death in service insurance scheme, an enhanced maternity/paternity leave policy, a workplace nursery benefit scheme, reimbursement of professional subscriptions, transport season ticket loans, a cycle to work scheme, and a discretionary yearly study trip abroad.

Annual leave:

You will have 25 days plus bank holidays and discretionary extra days for Christmas.

Salary:

Highly competitive.

How to apply:

Send us an email with your cover letter and CV to hello@thetownscapeconsultancy.com

We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion/and or belief. The candidates will need to have the right to work in the UK.