Assistant Urban Designer

Salary: per annum

Grade: G

Contract:Fixed Term for One Year

Hours: Part-time and Full-time contracts available

Location: Harrogate North Yorkshire

Hybrid -You can work from home and from one of our office bases in SelbyRichmond Scarborough Malton Northallerton Skipton and Harrogate whilst youcover an allocated part of the region.

The post would suit a recent graduate or postgraduatelooking for a first Urban Design role.

Our team

The Councils Planning Services play a fundamentalrole in managing the natural and built environment ensuring that the futuredevelopment needs of the area can be accommodated to make it a better place inwhich to live and work. The Environment & Design workstream comprises amultidisciplinary team of specialist disciplines who support the councilsrole in place-shaping by working across the whole planning function. Thespecialisms include archaeology ecology landscape historic environment andurban design.

Role summary

The Assistant Urban Design Officer will help toinfluence the delivery of high quality and sustainable design of buildingsspaces and landscapes across the County to deliver the Councils place-shapingagenda.

You will assist in the provision of specialisturban design advice and have a supporting role in helping to shape thepreparation of the councils Local Plan and other plans and strategies as wellas providing advice and supporting the quality of developmentproposals.

You will also assist the Principal Urban Designerand Environment Design Manager in the preparation of masterplans design codesand design guidance to support the councils proactive role in facilitatingquality place-making including taking into account the council ambitions totackle climate change and creating a healthier North Yorkshire.

Duties and responsibilities

• Assisting in a range of urban design related projects from the earliest planning stages through to completion.

• Support and assist in the preparation implementation and review of statutory development plans by providing research to support the formulation of policies and assessing the impact of site allocations.

• Assist in updating design codes masterplans and design guidance and other advisory material for agents developers property owners and the general public.

• Assisting in the organisation of workshops training and design review undertaken by the NYC Design Hub

• Encourage and support high standards of design in new development.

• Assist in the preparation of evidence for public examinations and local inquiries in so far as it relates to design to support the Principal Urban Designer and Environment and Design Manager

• Respond to pre-application enquiries planning applications and enforcement cases where a proposal will have significant impact.

• Assist with the preparation of design/development briefs and provide design advice in respect of Council owned assets.

• Advise on mitigation associated with new development.

• Assist in the provision of design related training and briefings to develop in service capacity; equipping others to become more self-reliant when considering the impact of development and opportunities to negotiate better outcomes.

• Assist in the preparation of illustrative and written material including urban design frameworks 3D modelling briefs reports and other relevant documentation to support high-quality sustainable development.

• Provide design advice and support to other groups organisations and individuals in line with the Councils commercial agenda.

• Interpret data to assist decision making.

• Communicate effectively with colleagues clients and stakeholders.

• Work collaboratively and show self-motivation using own initiative to ensure that expectations are met for the benefit of the Council our customers and our colleagues.
• This post would suit a recent graduate/ postgraduate seeking their first work experience post qualification.

• Knowledge of urban design including relevant legislation and guidance.

• Knowledge of the town and country planning system (both plan making and development management)

• Good written and oral communication skills using a variety of methods which can be tailored to a broad range of stakeholders and customers including presentation techniques and report writing

• Developing effective relationships to deliver Service projects and priorities.

Experience / Qualifications:

• Degree and relevant professional qualification in urban design or similar.
• The post would suit a recent graduate/ postgraduate seeking their first work experience post qualification.
• Knowledge of urban design including relevant legislation and guidance.
• Knowledge of the town and country planning system (both plan making and development management)
• Good written and oral communication skills using a variety of methods which can be tailored to a broad range of stakeholders and customers including presentation techniques and report writing
• Developing effective relationships to deliver Service projects and priorities.

What can we offer you

In addition to your salary we offer a range of great benefits to help you financially and make life a bit easier.

These include:

• a local government pension scheme with a generous employer contribution
• salary sacrifice schemes
• employee discount benefits including shopping supermarkets gym discounts and more!
• travel loans
• Health Assured confidential help and support for your wellbeing

Click on our Total Rewards Brochure at the bottom of this advert to see the full range of benefits.

Contact and Apply

For more information/informal discussion pleasecontact (Environment Design Manager). Applying is easy simply clickon apply now register your details remove your personal details from your CVand upload by midnight onSunday 11th October 2026.

Key Documents:

Job

Total rewards

Key Dates:

Closing Date:Sunday 11th October 2026

Shortlisting: Week Commencing 12th October 2026

Interviews:Week commencing 19th October 2026

NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies.

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

North Yorkshire Councils purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each others contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

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