Town planner

Town planners decide how land can be developed or conserved for the benefit of society. The career involves putting together plans that outline policies in areas such as housing, transport and the environment. The work covers planning for, and shaping, the places in which people want to live, work and play – now and in the future.

Work activities

Planners make long term plans for the future development of places. These plans must take into account the preservation of the environment, the economic development of a location and social concerns, including the opinions of local people. Planners ensure that places are well designed, safe and enjoyable to live in, work in and visit. Most of all, they must be sustainable: they must work for people now and in the future.

Planners working for local authorities may be involved in preparing local policies and plans that involve talking with local residents and provide guidance for developers.  Planners working for local authorities also accept applications for changes to a use of a location. This could be a smaller scale decision, such as an extension to a house or converting a building from offices to flats; through to large-scale schemes that might cover residential, commercial or social uses.

Within the private sector, planners may:

• Work to submit an application for a development on behalf of a client.
• Submit plans for larger schemes with a broader vision for an area.
• Provide planning expertise to government.

Some planners undertake similar roles for companies in-house – for house building firms, retailers or utilities companies, identifying appropriate sites for development and securing planning permission. It is often through working together and negotiating a position that planners from both the public and private sectors can secure the best possible future for an area.

Planners can also work in a range of other organisations, including central government where they will shape national planning policy, regional agencies where they will set out appropriate visions for a region; charities or nongovernmental organisations.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

• A strong interest in the built and natural environment.
• The confidence for public speaking and decision making.
• Problem-solving skills.
• The ability to work to deadlines.
• Good organisational skills, as the work can be varied.
• To be able to explain issues clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong IT skills.
• An interest in geography.

The following skills shortages have been identified in this industry:

• Presentation skills
• Mathematical skills
• Writing skills
• Political awareness
• Interpersonal skills
• Management skills
• Foreign language skills.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate.  Town planners earn in the range of £18,000 to £45,000.

Most work around 38-40 hours, Monday to Friday. However, you may have early starts and late finishes and you may need to work some weekends.

Traditionally, most town planners work for local authorities. However, there are an increasingly diverse range of roles for planners in private planning and multi-disciplinary consultancies: construction, the retail sector, utilities companies, charities and other non-governmental organisations. Opportunities for town planners occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

What’s happening in this work area?

Town planning as an area has a key role to play in changing people’s attitudes towards travel in the future. In particular this involves promoting the use of alternatives to the private car. Because of this, opportunities to work in this area are expected to grow and develop in the future.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on the LG jobs website, and on the Government’s Find a Job and Find an Apprenticeship services.

Entry routes and training

A common route into this career is to study for a degree accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). Subjects such as town planning, and environmental planning are useful. Another possible route into this career is by doing a degree in a related subject and following it with an RTPI accredited postgraduate qualification. Courses in a general subject area such as geography will be useful.

Following the education stage, you’ll need two years’ relevant work experience to become a chartered town planner.

There is also a level 7 (degree) apprenticeship in the role of chartered town planner. A separate level 6 (degree) apprenticeship as a town planner requires you to carry out further training to gain chartership.

Experienced town planners can progress to senior positions. Local authorities have a structured set of promotion routes.

Qualifications

To enter a relevant degree course, you will usually need:

• Two to three A-levels.
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
• A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English and maths.

Other qualifications are often acceptable as alternatives to A-levels, for example:

• Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

However, entry requirements for different courses vary, so check university prospectuses for more details.

You’ll need at least two A-levels to begin a degree apprenticeship as well as GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: it is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Relevant skills gained working as town planning support staff in a local government department are useful. Experienced entrants who lack formal academic qualifications can apply to become Technical Members of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). See the RTPI website for guidance on entry requirements.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges. HNDs and HNCs are sometimes acceptable for some postgraduate courses, although only if accompanied by substantial relevant experience in a planning department.

A range of colleges and universities offer degrees in town planning / urban planning / region planning, including at master’s level. Study can be part time/flexible or via distance learning.

Funding for postgraduate study in planning may be available in the form of bursaries offered by some organisations. Employers may also offer to sponsor students on part-time qualifications.

Related careers

• Cartographer
• Landscape architect
• Landscape scientist
• Town planning support staff