Town Planner
Map out your future with a career as a Town Planner! In celebration of New Homes Week, we’re exploring a career that shapes the way people live, work, and play. As a Town Planner, you’ll help design and develop neighbourhoods and community spaces, always considering the needs of people and the environment.
Ready to see the plans for your future?
Job Description
Salary (Avg.) £33,000
Town Planners design and organise buildings, parks, roads, and public spaces to create communities that are attractive, sustainable, and functional. You’ll balance the needs of residents, businesses, and the environment, working with councils, developers, architects, and other stakeholders to ensure spaces work for everyone. From planning new neighbourhoods to enhancing existing areas, Town Planners make decisions that truly shape the future of communities. Following a typical 9-5 working pattern, this career has a lot of room for growth, with Chief Planning Officers earning from £55,000 to up to £100,000 per year.
Qualifications and Skills
To become a Town Planner, it’s useful to have GCSEs and A Levels in subjects like Geography or Art and Design. You can then go the university route and get a specific degree in town and regional planning or urban planning, however, this is not the only route – you can enter this career with many different degrees, such as:
- Architecture
- Environmental studies
- Economics
- Law
- Politics
- Engineering
Alternatively, you can apply for an apprenticeship and work your way up to chartered town planner, whilst earning a salary and gaining a degree. To become a Chartered Town Planner, you’ll need to study an RTPI-accredited course, either as part of your degree or as a postgraduate qualification.
What you can be doing now
Start building the skills and experience that will help you become a Town Planner, today. You can gain experience by volunteering for community projects, helping with local events, or getting involved in environmental or urban initiatives in your area. Staying on top of what’s happening in your community is also a great way to learn about planning – research how planning decisions are made and follow news about new developments in your area. You’ll also need communication and teamwork skills, as planning is all about working with others. Group projects, clubs, or sports can help you develop these essential skills.
Every small step now helps you understand how communities are shaped and prepares you for a future in Town Planning.
