Conservation Officer

Shrewsbury, United Kingdom | Posted on 18/08/2026

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Job Description

3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

Job Purpose

To provide specialist conservation and historic environment support to the Historic Environment Team, contributing to the assessment of planning and listed building consent applications and providing professional heritage advice. The postholder will support the Council in protecting and enhancing designated and non-designated heritage assets, responding to consultations and pre-application enquiries, and contributing to the effective delivery of the Council’s historic environment and conservation functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess planning applications, listed building consent applications and related consultations, providing clear and professionally informed heritage recommendations.
• Provide specialist conservation advice on proposals affecting listed buildings, conservation areas, registered parks and gardens, scheduled monuments and other designated and non-designated heritage assets.
• Respond to pre-application enquiries and provide clear advice to applicants, agents, planning colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Undertake site visits and inspections as required to assess the impact of proposals on heritage assets.
• Prepare high-quality written consultation responses, reports, recommendations, briefings and other professional documentation.
• Apply relevant legislation, national planning policy, Historic England guidance and recognised conservation principles when assessing proposals.
• Support conservation area work, heritage projects, policy development and the preparation of heritage guidance where required.
• Assist with the monitoring and resolution of Buildings at Risk cases and other heritage-related matters.
• Liaise effectively with Historic England, local amenity societies, town and parish councils, applicants, agents, professional consultants and other stakeholders.
• Attend meetings, working groups and other forums and represent the Historic Environment Team as required.
• Contribute to the effective and timely delivery of the Historic Environment Team’s workload, managing competing priorities and meeting agreed deadlines.
• Promote high standards of conservation practice and contribute to the protection, management and enhancement of Shropshire’s historic environment.

Requirements

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Building Conservation, Historic Environment, Planning, Architecture or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable professional experience working as a Conservation Officer or in a comparable historic environment or heritage role.
• Good working knowledge of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Historic England guidance and conservation best practice.
• Experience of assessing proposals affecting listed buildings, conservation areas and other heritage assets and preparing professional written recommendations.
• Strong report-writing, analytical and written communication skills.
• Excellent verbal communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage a varied workload and provide specialist advice within agreed timescales.
• Experience working within a Local Planning Authority is desirable.
• Membership of IHBC, RTPI, RIBA or another relevant professional body is desirable.
• Experience preparing Conservation Area Appraisals, management plans or heritage guidance documents is desirable.
• Experience of heritage enforcement and Buildings at Risk work is desirable.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Additional Information

Location: Home working with office attendance at Guildhall and site visits across Shropshire as required.

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