On behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC), Design South East is pleased to announce an open call for design review panel members to join our Brighton & Hove Design Review Panel.
About Design South East
Design South East is an independent not-for-profit organisation that has been supporting local authorities and their stakeholders to deliver high-quality places for almost 30 years. We manage multi-disciplinary design review panels on behalf of authorities in London and across the wider South East region.
We are refreshing the Brighton & Hove Design Review Panel and recruiting new experts to ensure the panel brings the thought leadership and expertise to support the city’s development challenges. The panel will scrutinise applications, considering national and local planning policy, and offer feedback that will lead to the improvement of design proposals and give decision-makers the confidence and information to support innovative, high-quality designs that meet the needs of communities and clients.
About Brighton & Hove
Brighton & Hove is a regional cultural ‘city by the sea’, famous for its vibrant, cosmopolitan lifestyle, strong commitment to the arts, and thriving creative industries and digital media sector. The 11km of seafront is the ‘shopfront’ of the city, acting as a focus for entertainment, recreation, and leisure activities. The city is known internationally for its extensive Regency and Victorian architecture and has around 3,400 listed buildings.
The natural environment within and surrounding the city is of remarkable quality, and one sixth of the city’s area is covered by a nature conservation designation. The extensive chalk downlands, much of which fall within the South Downs National Park, are essential to the health of the city, in terms of its water supply (aquifer), biodiversity, and opportunities for leisure and recreation.
Brighton & Hove is a tightly constrained, compact city situated between the South Downs National Park and the sea. With a limited legacy of derelict or vacant sites, these ‘natural boundaries’ define and limit the outward expansion of the city. As a result, growth must be achieved through sensitive intensification that protects and enhances Brighton & Hove’s unique character.
Additionally, regeneration and sustainable regrowth will be key priorities in achieving Brighton & Hove City Council’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, having declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2018.
Joining the panel offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of this city as it experiences pressure for growth and change.
Expertise
We are seeking applications from people from a range of professions, backgrounds, and localities. We want to ensure that the panel is representative of Brighton & Hove and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates and from groups currently under-represented in the building industry, including people with disabilities, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. We invite applications from those new to design review as well as those with previous experience.
We welcome applicants with expertise in areas including, but not limited to:
- architecture (especially high-density mixed-use)
- civil engineering
- design coding
- ecology and biodiversity
- heritage and conservation
- hydrology, flood risk, and coastal management
- landscape architecture
- public health and spatial planning
- retrofitting and repurposing buildings
- social housing
- social infrastructure and inclusive design
- street/public realm design
- structural engineering
- sustainability and low carbon design
- transport planning, infrastructure, and active travel
- urban design and masterplanning
- viability and development economics
Appointment will initially be for the calendar year starting June 2023, with a potential to extend for a further two years.
To apply
Please email panel.recruitment@designsoutheast.org expressing your interest in joining the Brighton & Hove Design Review Panel. We will issue our Recruitment Pack containing a set of FAQs (including panel remuneration fees) and a link to an online Application Form.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Tuesday 30th May 2023.
Panel member selection will take place in collaboration with Brighton & Hove City Council based on a set of clear and transparent selection criteria.
Please note, if you recently applied to join our wider expert network, you will still need to apply for the Brighton & Hove Design Review Panel but will complete a reduced application form.
