Julia Jardine - Streatham & Clapham High School 1983 - 1991

TOWN PLANNING - Associate Director, Terence O’Rourke Ltd

Considering a career in town planning?

If you are interested in people’s effect on their environment, natural or built, the creation of  imaginative and safe places and political influences in decision making or just want to make a difference  - then consider a career in planning.

Planning as a career can take you into many different employment sectors. The first that will spring to mind is the local government planning officer. Their role is two-fold: to prepare a development plan that sets out the level and location of development within an area, and the policies for economic growth and environmental protection. The second function is that of considering planning applications for new development within their area and advising local Politicians whether nor not to permit the development to go ahead.

The second major sector is the private sector. Here planners can be employed by consultancies advising clients on a range of different projects. The consultancy for which I work, Terence O’Rourke Ltd, is based in Bournemouth, and like many consultancies promotes a range of projects across the UK including renewable energy schemes such as wind farms, housing, business parks, mixed use schemes, airports, university campuses, schools, hospitals and public utilities. Our role as consultants is one of negotiating between Client, local planning officers and other interest groups to ensure that the proposal for development is acceptable, permitted, and as a member of a professional body, promotes ‘good planning’. Some large firms and institutions such as retailers, airports and universities may also have in-house planning advisors.

A third opportunity for someone interested in planning is in central government either in the civil service, or working for quasi-government bodies such as English Heritage, English Nature, Countryside Agency, Civic Trust - all with more specialist interests.

A final option would be working in the charity or pressure group sector for example for the National Trust, the Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE) or RSPB. Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) also actively seeks planners to assist with development projects abroad.

Given the range of opportunities the prospects of career advancement are significant. In the private sector you may soon find yourself advising airport operators, retailers, and national developers on strategies for progressing major developments, or in local government, heading up a team of local planning officers. However, be aware of the different earnings profile between the sectors. Whilst local government pay often begins higher at the entry level the private sector often offers greater upward mobility.

So now you know what you may be getting into how do you get there?

Many planners start with a degree in Geography followed by a Masters in Town Planning (with part-time options). The latter must be accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) if professional membership is later desired. Although this can take up to five years, this is a common route into planning and can be favoured by employees. This is the route I followed. Having completed a degree in Geography at Cambridge University I then undertook the two year Masters in Urban Planning at Oxford Brookes University.

Alternatively, a planning degree can be read, taking four years full-time. It is advisable to check the funding arrangements of these routes before embarking on any.

After this studying, two years of work experience is required before you can become a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Alongside these routes there are planners who have entered the profession straight from A-level, studying part–time and often with funding from their employees. This takes longer, but you will be working (and earning) at the same time.

Planning is a challenging career based upon both technical knowledge and people skills. Despite the planning profession being fairly evenly represented by both genders, the development industry is traditionally male dominated so working in this field can be particularly challenging for women. However, one thing I have come to appreciate over the seven years in the profession is that projects, and the process of them being realised, benefit from the experiences and perspective of women.