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Town planning assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Town planning technician

Town planning assistants process development applications, gather site data, create technical plans and give advice on regulations.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£32,000 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 planning assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

University

You can do a degree accredited by The Royal Town Planning Institute before applying for a job as an assistant.

Subjects include:

  • planning, environment and development
  • city and regional planning
  • urban planning and property development

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You can take a college course to learn some of the skills needed for the job, which may help when applying for a trainee position.

Courses include:

  • construction and the built environment
  • civil engineering for technicians
  • T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can apply for a place on a Town Planning Assistant Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

This typically takes around 2 years to complete and is a mix of on-the-job training and off-site study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 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

Direct Application

You can apply directly for a trainee position. You'll need a minimum of GCSEs in maths, English and ICT, along with A levels or equivalent in subjects like:

  • geography
  • environmental studies
  • business studies
  • economics

You may have an advantage if you have experience in:

  • administration
  • computer-aided design (CAD)
  • construction
  • surveying

Some employers may ask for a degree qualification.

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the 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
  • the ability to work well with others
  • analytical thinking skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • customer service skills
  • business management skills
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • maths 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 planning assistant, you could:

  • research information on land and property registers
  • gather data, take photos and check maps on site visits
  • prepare reports on potential development sites
  • manage technical libraries, filing systems and databases
  • draw up plans using computer-aided design software
  • carry out surveys, like traffic impact assessments
  • advise on planning and environmental regulations
  • organise public consultations and answer enquiries about application procedures

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 team leader or move on to technician level. With further study, you could become a qualified town planner.

You might also set up your own business and offer consultancy support in areas like planning law, environmental regulations and sustainable design.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a Town planning assistant right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

T Level Construction - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

  • Provider: HAVANT AND SOUTH DOWNS COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Waterlooville

T Level Construction - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

  • Provider: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
  • Start date: 15 September 2025
  • Location: Birmingham
Find courses near you

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