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Town planner
Spatial planner, planner, urban designer, planning officer
Town planners help shape the way towns and cities develop, and balance the demands on land with the needs of the community.
Average salary (a year)
£18000
Starter
£45000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
38.0 to 40.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings
attending events or appointments
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a university course; an apprenticeship; working towards this role
University
You'll need a degree or a postgraduate qualification accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Subjects include
planning, environment and development, city and regional planning, urban planning and property development
You can do postgraduate qualification in planning if you have a degree in an unrelated subject.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
Apprenticeship
You could do a chartered town planner degree apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
Most people following this route have:
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
Work
You could qualify while working as a planning technician or other support role.
You'll need the backing of your employer and you'll combine practical experience with part-time or distance learning study towards an accredited planning qualification.
Volunteering
You'll find it useful to get as much work experience as possible. This will give you a better understanding of the career, and the contacts you make may help you to find paid work.
You can search for companies listed by the Royal Town Planning Institute or contact your local council to ask about opportunities.
More Information
Professional And Industry Bodies
You could join the Royal Town Planning Institute to work towards chartered status, find training opportunities and make industry contacts.
Further Information
You can find out more about town planning as a career from the Royal Town Planning Institute.
What it takes
Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
    Knowledge of english language
    Knowledge of geography
    The ability to work well with others
    Analytical thinking skills
    Excellent verbal communication skills
    Persistence and determination
    Ambition and a desire to succeed
    Business management skills
Digital Skills Level
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
What you will do
Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
Day to day tasks
You may work on projects to
assess the effect of new rail links or roads, plan for houses and renewable energy generation sites like wind farms, redesign urban spaces and develop parks, woodlands and waterways in a sustainable way, conserve old buildings and archaeological sites
You could
develop local or national planning policies for government, prepare and make decisions about planning applications, plans and proposals, advise the public and business professionals on planning rules, regulations and policy, research and assess technical information, data and surveys, visit sites and attend planning inquiries, write reports for politicians, developers and the public
Working environment
You could work in an office.
Your working environment may be you'll travel often.
Career Path & Progression
Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
With experience, you could apply for chartered town planner status, and then become a planner or senior planner. With at least 10 years' experience you could become a senior manager or planning consultant. You could work as a self-employed consultant.
You could also move into environmental management, urban regeneration, recreation management and property development.
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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