Salford Design Review Forum

We are establishing an independent Design Review Forum for Salford to champion high quality sustainable design and raise the standard of design quality across new development and are currently seeking to recruit a cohort of experienced, built environment professionals as members of the forum.

The Design Review Forum will review large scale major development schemes, typically at the pre-application stage, and provide independent professional advice to developers and the council in relation to design.

Apply to be on the Salford Design Review Forum

We are seeking experienced built environment professionals to join the Design Review Forum and play an important role in the delivery of high-quality design across Salford.

The Design Review Forum will review larger scale major development schemes across the city, including mixed use developments, housing-led regeneration schemes, and larger scale residential and commercial developments. In providing independent design advice on schemes, the Design Review Forum will play a crucial role in reviewing and informing the design of schemes at the pre-application stage.

We are looking to appoint a Chair and Vice Chair, together with a cohort of 20 to 30 forum members, across a range of built environment professionals with significant design expertise, including architects, urban designers, masterplanners, landscape architects, and heritage specialists.

Why apply?

Salford embraces change and growth. At the heart of Greater Manchester, Salford is a thriving mix of modern and historic, and is full of ambition, opportunity, and innovation – a place of natural beauty and diversity, with a proud cultural heritage. In recent years, Salford has continued its remarkable story of transformation. With more well-paid jobs, new affordable and social homes, thriving local schools, award-winning green spaces, iconic infrastructure, cleaner transport, more integrated health and care and a vibrant cultural scene, there is much we can celebrate as a city. Looking to the future, we are determined to build on these successes and ensure more people and communities can benefit from the growing opportunities the city has to offer.

Salford is a dynamic and pioneering city that embraces development and regeneration. From the transformation of Salford Quays, the growth of MediaCity, and the redevelopment of Greengate, Chapel Street and Salford Central, Salford is at the forefront of development within Greater Manchester. We were crowned 2024 'City of the Year' at the Estates Gazette Awards for our “pioneering, exemplar approach” and being “a city setting the bar when it comes to building a fairer, greener and healthier city for all."

As one of the first local authorities in the north west to establish an independent design review forum, Salford is committed to ensuring that new development delivers the highest standards of design and placemaking.

If you share Salford’s passion and pride, and want to make a positive contribution to the future of our city, we’d love to hear from you.

Who should apply?

We are looking for a diverse range of experienced built environment practitioners including architects, urban designers, masterplanners, landscape architects, and conservation and heritage specialists with expertise in one or more of the following types of design and development:

• Masterplanning
• Large scale residential development of 100+ units
• Residential development of 30 to 99 units
• Mixed-use employment and residential schemes
• Affordable housing schemes
• Purpose-built student accommodation
• Large-scale purpose-built shared living / co-living developments
• Sustainable design including retrofit
• School, community and/or cultural buildings
• Large-scale sports, events or retail schemes

Candidates should have at least five years’ experience of working as a built environment professional and preferably be at associate level or above.

The council aims to have a forum of members that best reflects the diversity and inclusivity of Salford and welcomes applications from everyone; people from black, Asian, and multi-ethnic backgrounds, candidates with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and individuals from other protected characteristic groups, including female professionals.

Forum sessions

Scheduled Design Review Forum sessions will take place on a monthly basis, and will be held in person at MediaCity, Salford Quays. Each session will involve the Chair or Vice Chair, together with three forum members who will be selected from the wider cohort based upon their relevant design experience in relation to the schemes being reviewed. Scheduled sessions will typically involve a half day (4 hours), at which up to two schemes will be reviewed.

Scheduled sessions will typically take place on the afternoon of the third Tuesday of each month from 1pm to 5pm.

The following dates have been diarised for 2025/26:

• 16 September 2025
• 21 October 2025
• 18 November 2025
• 16 December 2025
• 20 January 2026
• 17 February 2026
• 17 March 2026
• 21 April 2026 
• 19 May 2026 
• 16 June 2026
• 21 July 2026 
• 18 August 2026 

In addition to the scheduled sessions, there may be a number of bespoke review sessions which may take place at alternative venues within Salford or Manchester. Full details of the service offer are set out within the terms of reference which are available to download below.

Forum members will be expected to be available to attend Design Review Forum sessions in person up to 6 times per year. The Chair and Vice Chair will be expected to attend all Design Review Forum sessions, with attendance split between themselves accordingly.

Forum member fees

Forum members will be paid a fee to reflect the time commitment associated with their involvement:

• Forum members will be paid £350 per half day of reviews / £700 per full day of reviews
• Forum Chair / Vice Chair will be paid £450 per half day of reviews / £900 per full day of reviews

Forum members will be expected to undertake a review of applicant team submissions and familiarise themselves with the proposal site in advance of the Design Review Forum session, and the fees set out above reflect this. No travel expenses will paid in addition to the above fees.

How to apply

Please download and complete the application form with all the required information, providing the necessary supporting documentation and email to designreviewforum@salford.gov.uk

Download the application form (Microsoft Word format, 37kb)

The deadline for applications is Sunday 27 July 2025 11.59pm.

Once completed please email to designreviewforum@salford.gov.uk 

Assessment process

You can apply to be a forum member, and can also apply for the roles of Chair and Vice Chair.

Shortlisted candidates for the roles of Chair and Vice Chair will be interviewed either in person or via Teams. We will not interview candidates for the role of forum member, and successful candidates will be notified by email.

Induction session

There will be an induction session for those who are appointed to the forum, and therefore applicants may wish to hold this date in their diaries.

When: Monday 1 September 2025 
Time: 9am to 1pm
Location: Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Salford, M27 5AW

How to contact us

If you have any questions or would like to have an informal chat about applying to join the Salford Design Review Forum, please contact designreviewforum@salford.gov.uk