Kindling Sauna
Architect & Planning Lead (Sauna)
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Architect and Planning Lead
Kindling
Three days per week | London | Part-time employment or retained consultancy
About Kindling
Kindling develops public sauna and bathing sites across London. We identify land that is empty, under-used or awaiting redevelopment, negotiate terms, take the site through planning, and deliver it for the operators who run it. We have a growing pipeline across Greater London.
The Role
Design and planning currently sit with an external architecture practice and a separate planning consultant. We are bringing both into one role.
The postholder will be responsible for design and planning across the pipeline, from initial site appraisal through to planning permission and the discharge of conditions. It is a broad remit covering feasibility, design, planning strategy, submission, determination and handover to delivery, and it carries full ownership of that work rather than a share of it.
The projects are small, the sites are varied and often constrained, and schemes move from appraisal to construction in months. As the only person in the organisation doing this work, the postholder will also set the design standards and planning process that we use going forward. The role is offered on a three day week and can be arranged around other commitments.
Responsibilities
Site Appraisal and Feasibility
- Assess new sites for technical and planning viability, including utilities, drainage, access and structural constraints
- Produce concise appraisals that support investment decisions and can be shared with landlords
- Identify constraints and abortive risk early, and advise on whether to proceed
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Design
- Develop layouts and concept designs, balancing operational requirements against site constraints
- Produce visual material to support landlord, community and stakeholder engagement
- Deliver technical drawing packages to planning standard
- Establish a standard design approach that can be adapted efficiently from site to site
Planning Strategy and Submission
- Set the planning strategy for each site, covering designations, planning history, policy context, programme and cost
- Establish and deliver against each local authority's validation requirements
- Prepare the full submission package, including planning statements and design and access statements
- Appoint and coordinate specialist consultants where required, and reflect their findings in the design
- Maintain a portfolio level view of planning complexity and risk across the pipeline
Determination and Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as agent, managing the application and the case officer relationship through to decision
- Negotiate with statutory consultees and respond to representations
- Lead community and stakeholder engagement, including pre-application consultation where appropriate
- Represent Kindling at planning committee
Handover to Delivery
- Discharge planning conditions, including pre-commencement conditions, to keep construction on programme
- Provide a coordinated, buildable package to the delivery team
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Requirements
- ARB registration, and the ability to hold professional indemnity cover
- RIBA Stage 3
- A record of securing planning consents in London as agent, including validation and case officer negotiation
- Able to produce a complete drawing package without support staff
- Experience appointing and coordinating specialist consultants
- Confident presenting to non-technical audiences, including residents, community groups and elected members
- Sound judgement about the level of effort a given site and its risks warrant
- Comfortable working with limited process and making decisions independently
Experience is more relevant to us than years served or previous job title.
Desirable
- Change of use, temporary or meanwhile use schemes
- Sites on Metropolitan Open Land, in parks, or within conservation areas
- Joint or multi-party planning applications
- Politically sensitive or GLA referable schemes
- Leisure, wellness or public bathing typologies
- Familiarity with planning intelligence and design software, and an interest in using it to shorten programmes
Terms
Up to four days a week
We are able to work around another practice, a teaching commitment or similar, and welcome interest from small practices as well as individuals
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Dalston (Greater London, Greater London Region)
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