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Town planner

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Town planners plan and design places, including buildings, parks and infrastructure, to make them attractive, sustainable and convenient for people to use

As a town planner or planning officer, you'll be involved in the planning, management and sustainable development of cities, towns, villages and the countryside. Your aim will be to balance the competing demands of housing, economic development, agriculture, recreation, transport and the environment, in order to allow appropriate development to take place. Town planning is a highly interdisciplinary profession that allows you to interact with many different sectors and people.

Regeneration within towns and cities forms an important part of planning and part of your role will be to take into account the often competing views of local businesses, stakeholders and communities.

If you work within a rural area, you'll need to ensure that development is sustainable and that the right balance of development is achieved to preserve the countryside. You'll also aim to make a positive contribution towards tackling the effects of climate change, including supporting net zero, biodiversity and resilient communities.

Responsibilities

As a planner, you'll need to:

  • choose whether to specialise in a particular area, such as protecting the historic environment or urban design, or work across a variety of areas
  • develop creative and original planning solutions that satisfy all parties
  • consult with stakeholders and other interested parties
  • negotiate with developers and other professionals, such as surveyors and architects
  • research and develop planning policies to guide development and provide expert advice
  • assess planning applications, monitor outcomes where necessary and check that laws and regulations are followed
  • research and analyse data to help inform strategic developments, such as increasing affordable housing provision
  • design layouts and draft design statements
  • use information technology systems such as computer-aided design (CAD) and geographical information systems (GIS)
  • attend and present at planning boards, appeals and public inquiries, providing insight and suggesting improvements where required
  • keep up to date with legislation relating to land use
  • promote environmental education and awareness
  • help disadvantaged groups express their views on planning issues and proposals and visit sites to assess the impact of proposals on people or the environment
  • coordinate available resources to meet planning targets
  • write reports (often of a complex nature), making recommendations or explaining detailed regulations for a range of audiences, from borough councils and regional assemblies to members of the public.

Salary

  • According to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) State of the Profession 2025 (England) report, the most commonly reported salary band for town planners was £40,001 to £50,000.
  • Salaries are widely spread, with many respondents reporting £50,000+ and a significant proportion £80,000+.
  • Public sector roles often come with benefits such as a good pension, holiday entitlement and flexible working. Private sector employers may offer performance-related pay, profit share and other benefits, but packages vary.

Becoming a chartered member of the RTPI may improve your salary prospects. Salaries vary depending on the size and location of your employer and the sector you work in.

Income data from the RTPI State of the Profession 2025 report. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours vary according to the sector and individual work levels, but typically follow a regular 9am to 5pm pattern.

More senior roles may require additional commitment, including attending evening or weekend meetings due to contact with the public, politicians and pressure groups.

Career breaks and job-share opportunities may be available.

What to expect

  • The work is largely office based, but you'll spend some time making site visits, meeting clients and attending external meetings.
  • Working as a self-employed or freelance consultant can be an option once you've gained sufficient experience. Having a specialism can help you stand out, although maintaining a diverse client base is important for maximising income opportunities.
  • Jobs are available across the UK, as every local authority employs planners, and planning consultancies operate nationwide.
  • You may need to travel within the working day, but overnight absence from home is uncommon. Some consultancies may offer occasional opportunities for overseas work.

Qualifications

You can get into town planning with a degree in any subject, although specific degrees in planning are available. To become a chartered town planner, you'll usually need to complete an RTPI-accredited qualification, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This may involve completing a combined qualification or a spatial qualification followed by a specialist qualification.

If your degree is not accredited by the RTPI, you can still qualify for chartered status by completing an accredited postgraduate course. Graduates from a range of subjects are accepted onto postgraduate courses, but the following subjects may be particularly relevant:

  • architecture or landscape architecture/design
  • ecology and environmental science
  • economics
  • engineering
  • geography
  • law
  • politics, government or public administration
  • transport or transport planning
  • urban studies or the built environment.

A list of accredited undergraduate and postgraduate courses, along with further information, is available from RTPI accredited qualifications.

You can also search for postgraduate courses in town and country planning.

If you have an HND, you could consider entry at planning technician level. With relevant experience, this route can lead to professional recognition as a technical member of the RTPI.

Skills

You'll need to have:

  • creative thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills to develop imaginative solutions to planning problems
  • a flexible approach, initiative and the innovation to respond to change and contribute to regeneration and development projects
  • strong report-writing, communication and organisational skills for liaising with colleagues, developers, architects and possibly members of the public
  • research skills and the ability to keep up to date with planning policy and its implications
  • the ability to work both as part of a team and independently, managing a personal caseload
  • teamworking and independent working skills, including managing an individual caseload
  • project-management skills
  • self-motivation and the ability to manage competing priorities
  • the ability to listen to and negotiate with a range of stakeholders, and build effective working relationships
  • accuracy and attention to detail to ensure planning work meets legal and regulatory requirements.

Work experience

Employers value pre-entry work experience, which you can gain during vacations, through an industrial placement year or by working part time in the planning department of a local authority or consultancy. Arranging work shadowing with an experienced planner can provide useful insight into the role, as well as opportunities to engage with the public and carry out relevant administrative tasks.

It’s also worthwhile becoming a student member of the RTPI, as this provides access to publications, a specialist library, and professional networks and events.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Many town planners work in the public sector for a range of employers including:

You may also work in the private sector for a firm of consultants or, with enough experience, establish yourself as an independent consultant. The RTPI offers information and support to help you do this. A consultancy may specialise in a particular area of planning, or it may cover a range of areas and involve working with other professionals, such as architects, engineers and surveyors. For contact details of consultancies, see the RTPI's Directory of Planning Consultants.

Other employers include water, gas and electricity companies and property developers that need support with assessing building locations and submitting planning applications. Major charities and campaigning organisations also employ planners.

With experience, you could also work in further or higher education, as a teacher or lecturer on planning-related courses.

Look for job vacancies at:

The following recruitment agencies specialise in planning jobs:

Professional development

If you've completed an accredited RTPI qualification and want to obtain chartered status you must take the RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

Before you can apply for the APC, you must gain a minimum of 24 months' (full-time equivalent) relevant spatial planning experience, at least 12 months of which must be completed while a Licentiate Member of the Institute.

While you're a Licentiate member, you'll need to complete a reflective journal for a minimum of one year (usually longer if you have no experience) and identify a suitable mentor. The reflective journal provides evidence of your experience as a planner and how you have applied your skills and knowledge to real-life scenarios, which is required for applying for the APC. Find out more at RTPI Chartered Town Planner.

The RTPI also offers a virtual learning portal, allowing you to study modules online. For more information see RTPI Learn.

In the early stages of your career, it's useful to join the RTPI Young Planner Network, which gives you access to training, social events and resources aimed at those at an early career stage.

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, and career progression may become quicker at this point.

In the public sector, moving from assistant/graduate planner to senior planner can take around three to five years. Further promotion may be to the role of a principal planner or planning manager. Senior managerial roles typically require a substantial amount of experience, often around ten years or more.

If you're prepared to relocate, there are opportunities to move between local authorities. Movement between the private and public sector is also possible, for example between a local authority and a consultancy or charity.

You may decide to specialise in an area of planning such as:

  • community engagement
  • housing
  • transport
  • conservation
  • regeneration
  • sustainable development
  • waste and energy
  • urban design.

If you're interested in working abroad, see the RTPI's Guide to Working Internationally.