Who is town planner

University life Changing or leaving your course Alternatives to university. Log in Register. Getting a job CVs and cover letters Applying for jobs Interview tips Open days and events Applying for university Choosing a course Getting into university Student loans and finance University life Changing or leaving your course Alternatives to university Post a job. View all property and construction vacancies. Add to favourites. Town planners plan and design buildings, parks and roads to make places attractive and convenient for people to use As a town planner or planner, you'll be involved in the management and development of cities, towns, villages and the countryside.

These reports may be for a range of groups, from borough councils to regional assemblies, or members of the public. Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours Working hours vary according to the sector and individual work levels, but you can generally expect a regular 9am to 5pm pattern. Career breaks and job shares are possible. What to expect The work is largely office based but you'll spend some of your time making site visits, meeting clients and attending external meetings.

Self-employment or freelance work as an independent consultant can be an option once you've gained enough experience. A specialism in a certain area of planning can help you stand out from competitors, although it is important to have a diverse client base to maximise opportunities for income. Jobs are available in most areas of the UK as every local authority employs planners. Planning consultancies are also located throughout the UK.

You may need to travel within a working day but overnight absence from home is rarely necessary. Overseas work may be required occasionally with some consultancies. Qualifications You can get into town planning with a degree in any subject but specific degrees in planning are available.

Skills You'll need to have: creative thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills to come up with imaginative solutions to planning problems a flexible approach and initiative and innovation to respond to changes and come up with regeneration solutions strong report-writing, communication and organisational skills for liaising with colleagues, developers, architects and possibly members of the public the ability to both work as part of a team and manage an individual caseload project-management skills self-motivation an aptitude for listening to, and negotiating with, a range of people the ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail, in order to ensure planning details are exact.

Work experience Employers are keen for you to get some pre-entry work experience and you can do this in your vacation time, or part time in the planning department of a local authority or consultancy. Employers Many town planners work in the public sector for a variety of employers including: local authorities city, district, borough and county councils in England, Scotland and Wales, in various departments such as regeneration, policy and development control, or the Northern Ireland planning service the Planning Inspectorate - dealing with planning permission rejections and local development plans in England and Wales Scottish Government Welsh Government organisations that have responsibility for protecting the natural environment including the Environment Agency EA and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency SEPA The Highways Agency HA Homes and Communities Agency - involved in urban regeneration.

Career prospects Career structures differ between employers, but after you've gained chartered status with the RTPI your chances of moving into senior positions will increase. You may also decide to specialise in an area of planning such as: community engagement conservation regeneration sustainable development urban design. How would you rate this page?

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If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this. You can find out more about how we use cookies here. If you would like to know more about cookies, or how you can delete them, click here. What a town planner does. Planners are responsible in part for managing the projects they take on. While they aren't directly involved with the design or engineering elements, planners manage high-stakes elements of projects. Project management skills help the planner organise tasks and lead projects to success.

Organisation is a necessary skill for planners, since they may have multiple projects at once. They must keep the documentation and reports for each project organised for the application process. Organisation skills help with project approval and implementation, as every detail is important. Working in an industry that is constantly changing requires a level of innovation from planners. They develop new ways to progress the city or towns they work in, which requires creative solutions to evolving problems.

Innovation leads to successful and high-quality development despite the shifting expectations of urban and rural planning. Attend an accredited university to receive a degree in higher education. You may also use vocational and educational training VET to secure an offer. However, particular entry requirements may vary based on the university you apply to. Select an area of study that applies to development, such as construction management, engineering, property development or urban planning.

You may choose to pursue postgraduate studies as well. Another route to becoming an urban or rural planner is through relevant work experience.

You might volunteer at a local planning office or for the local council. Enter the field as a support worker to gain experience, with the opportunity to pursue a qualification after working. Look for an experienced planner to act as your mentor to gain insight into complex aspects of the job. Once you have experience and education, select an industry to pursue.

With such a broad range of options, work in a few different fields before deciding on one focus. More experience may expose you to new opportunities in the planning industry, such as a role in consulting or your local government. You might choose to work in a role that provides the opportunity to assist in multiple planning industries. Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing.

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