Title:

Principal Layout Designer

Location:

Cardiff

Salary:

None specified

Description:

RoleThe person appointed to this post will be responsible to the company Housing Director.Job purposeTo provide a full planning and design service to housing developers from initial appraisal to receipt of a satisfactoryplanning approval including all necessary consents and agreement.Key accountabilities(i) To obtain planning consents in the shortest timescales possible.(ii) To produce cost effective/attractive sketch scheme layouts for appraisal of new land opportunities.(iii) To produce all drawings and details required for non-standard client house types.(iv) To maintain an efficient fully backed-up computer network for the department.Key tasks1. (a) Prepare cost effective planning layouts to an identified or non-identified market brief.(b) Prepare and submit planning application.(c) Negotiate satisfactory planning consent in minimum timescale.(d) Engage landscape architect to produce acceptable landscaping scheme.(e) Discharge all planning conditions in minimum timescale.(f) Prepare suitable Autocad base drawing of planning consent scheme.2. (a) Visit site to appreciate any perceived difficulties prior to design.(b) Prepare cost effective sketch layout to an identified or non-identified market brief.(c) Liaise with engineering design consultant regarding influential engineering matters and their consequences.(d) Discuss sketch scheme layout with Local Authority planning officer (prior to planning application) to establish theirviews on the proposed scheme.(e) Prepare summary report to action and implement.3. (a) Prepare all drawings required for non-standard house types and/or details required for planning and BuildingRegulations applications.4. (a) Maintain complete weekly/monthly computer network back-ups for the department.(b) Be able to communicate via email to consultant engineers and any other organisation as required.(c) To be fully conversant with Windows NT/95 and Autocad R14/Autocad Lt97.(d) Produce computerised base layout to be used as basis for working drawing package (i.e. co-ordinatesdrawing/conveyances drawing/town planning drawing).(e) Be able to implement incoming computer generated information received in varying formats (i.e. dxf. Dwg. Zippedfiles).(f) Keep up to date with CAD developments to maintain compatibility with other companies and promote max efficiency.Key external contacts(a) Local Authorities (planning/highways/estates etc.)(b) NHBC(c) Service Authorities(d) Contractors(e) Consultants(f) Environment Agency(g) WDA(h) SolicitorsKnowledge and experience required(i) Ability to design attractive/economic layouts.(ii) A sound knowledge of house construction methods.(iii) Ability to communicate and liaise with others.(iv) Able to influence and convince external contacts.(v) Self motivational and organisational skills.(vi) Minimum 3 years experience HNC level or above.Main challenges(i) Ensure that planning consents are achieved in minimum timescale.(ii) Ensure that every scheme optimises the best possible sq. footage/acre ratio as requested by the relevanthousebuilder (client).(iii) Successfully negotiate likely imposed planning conditions with LA.(iv) Maximise the capabilities of the computer network to the benefit of the company.