Stephen Harker

Expertise

Stephen is a Senior Team Lead within the Architecture and Planning Department at GSP and also often deputises for the Technical Director of Architecture and Planning (South) when he is absent. His principal areas of experience are private and social housing, heritage properties and agricultural properties. Stephen has also been the lead on the development of the GSP response to the Building Safety Act and revisions to the Building Regulations, especially with regard to the Building Safety Regulator and the major changes to the way works within high rise residential properties are handled.

Stephen is experienced in leading projects through all RIBA Plan of Work Stages and in the submission and acquisition of Statutory and Regulatory approvals for both large and small projects.

Stephen has a strong drive for sustainability within the building industry and was an assessor for the Code for Sustainable Homes until the scheme’s dissolution and partial merging into the Building Regulations. He also has a long history in the measured surveying residential, commercial and educational buildings and has assisted in the development of GSP’s in-house digital surveying and reality capture team.

How do you help clients?

I work with both external clients and internal project managers to realise their aspirations for various projects by communicating with relevant stakeholders to understand constraints and any opportunities, whilst always aiming to provide a bespoke quality service.

Experience

1. Gained planning and listed building consent for a client advised by others it was not possible.
2. Designed and specified extensive alterations and major extensions to a C19 property.
3. Adapted a listed property for use as a fully compliant medical facility.
4. Secured building approval for the reinstatement of a well-known public building.
5. Helped clients to understand the application and construction process, making their project less daunting.