Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Salary: Circa £50,000 (dependent on experience)
A friendly and well-respected architecture and planning studio based in Essex is looking for a talented Urban Designer with a strong focus on residential layout and masterplanning. This thriving studio is known for its collaborative team culture and design-led approach to placemaking. They work across a wide range of urban regeneration and housing projects, and are keen to grow their team with someone passionate about shaping the future of our towns and neighbourhoods.
This is a hands-on, full-time office-based role where you’ll contribute to medium to large-scale housing developments, focusing on delivering innovative, community-led masterplans (not high-rise). You’ll work closely with clients, stakeholders, and local authorities to bring well-considered, policy-compliant designs to life.
The Role
As an Urban Designer, you’ll play a key part in shaping housing-led masterplans and urban design schemes at various stages. You’ll support concept development, produce planning documentation, and actively contribute to client and stakeholder engagement.
Key responsibilities include:
Collaborating with colleagues on regeneration and residential masterplanning schemes
Conducting site research, analysis, and feasibility studies
Designing housing layouts and contributing to site strategies
Preparing design codes, access statements, parameter plans, and other planning documents
Producing high-quality diagrams, sketches and visuals for reports and presentations
Attending client meetings and public consultations to represent the studio
Bringing creative, design-led solutions to planning and design challenges
About You
RIBA qualified or with a strong background in urban design and layout planning
5–10 years’ professional experience working on suburban housing and urban masterplanning projects
Strong knowledge of UK planning policy and urban design best practices
Experience preparing site layouts, supporting planning material and feasibility assessments
Proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign), and MS Office
Revit experience is a bonus but not essential
Confident in both hand sketching and digital communication techniques
Excellent visual, written and verbal communication skills
A collaborative team player with strong time management and organisation skills
What’s on Offer
Salary circa £50,000, depending on experience
Full-time, office-based role in Chelmsford, Essex (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday)
Four weeks’ annual leave, plus additional paid holiday over the Christmas period
A supportive and down-to-earth studio culture with long-term career opportunities
If you’re an experienced Layout Designer or Urban Designer with a passion for residential masterplanning and creating liveable neighbourhoods, this could be the perfect next step in your career.