Town Planner
A town planner manages the development of cities, towns and countryside.
The Role
- A town planner (also known as a planning officer or planning consultant) manages the development of cities, towns and countryside.
- Assisting with the development of planning policy at a national, regional or local level including strategies which take account of transport, the local economy, jobs, green infrastructure, renewable energy, climate change and the historic environment
- Reviewing and monitoring existing planning policy documents
- Assisting with the preparation and implementation of transport policies, strategies and plans at national, regional or local level to create an efficient transport network
- This could include cycle routes, rail and road routes and new airports or runways
- Helping to ensure that areas are attractive, safe and pleasant to live, work in and visit and designing out features which create unattractive or unsafe areas
- Helping to energise places that have become run-down while conserving historic buildings and making the most of the landscape
- Helping to balance the needs of a growing population for more homes and more travel with the environmental impact and how we manage/ reduce waste
- Helping to draft and review planning applications
- Conducting appropriate research to inform planning applications
- Assisting with consultations and negotiations with consultants and developers
- Helping to enforce planning controls for developments
- Helping to prepare policy or guidance documents on how to manage historic environments
- Helping to advise on the refurbishment or re-use of listed buildings
- Assisting with the provision of services to clients and contributing to projects
- Producing planning submissions, appeals, design and access statements and other documents
- Managing a client portfolio
- Developing business relationships
- Running public consultations
- Town planners often become chartered members of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Salary
- Newly trained Planners can earn in the region of £20,000 - £35,000
- Trained with experience Town Planners can earn in the region of £35,000 - £40,000
Qualifications & Training
To become an assistant or graduate planner you may need a degree. There are various undergraduate degrees in planning that are accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). A full-time degree course takes four years, which includes a three-year BA degree and a one-year postgraduate diploma. Longer part-time courses are also available.
Senior planners start their career as an assistant/graduate planner and can become a senior planner after 2-3 years of experience. Progression may be quicker after becoming chartered with the RTPI. 
