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Town planner

Alternative titles for this job include Planning officer, spatial planner, urban designer

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)

£26,000 Starter

to

£45,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings attending events or appointments

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Town planner

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You can study for a degree or a postgraduate qualification accredited by The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

Subjects include:

  • planning, environment and development
  • city and regional planning
  • geography and 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

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Chartered Town Planner Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.

This can take around 5 years to complete and is a mix of on-the-job training and study at university. Contact apprenticeship training providers for details.

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 degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as a town planning assistant with an organisation and take further training while you work.

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 for networking, events and professional development training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in town planning from The Royal Town Planning Institute.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of geography
  • analytical thinking skills
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • maths skills
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • business management skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Restrictions and Requirements

You may need a driving licence to visit development sites.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a town planner, you may work on projects to:

  • assess the impact of new road and rail links
  • plan for housing, schools and energy generation sites, like wind farms
  • conserve old buildings and archaeological sites
  • redesign urban spaces and develop sustainable parks, woodlands and waterways

You could:

  • develop local, regional or national planning policies
  • assess technical information, site data and surveys
  • make sure rules are followed in planning proposals and applications
  • advise interested parties on regulations and policy
  • prepare reports explaining planning decisions
  • attend planning inquiries, hearings and appeals

Working environment

You could work in an office or visit sites.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a senior or principal planner, planning department manager or consultant.

You could apply for Chartered Planner status, which demonstrates your skills and expertise in this role.

You might also move into:

  • environmental management
  • urban regeneration
  • recreation management
  • property development

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

CHARTERED TOWN PLANNER APPRENTICESHIP

  • Wage: £12,480 a year Annually
  • Location: Cambridge
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

T Level Construction - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

  • Provider: HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: HARTLEPOOL

T Level Construction - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

  • Provider: REASEHEATH COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 September 2025
  • Location: NANTWICH
Find courses near you

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