The Essential Guide for Planners going to the UK for work
London and UK
Understanding and Working in the UK Planning System
Imagine yourself in the employer’s seat.
You have a Planner with the right experience sitting in front of you. The interview seems to be going really well until you ask a simple question. The candidate doesn’t seem to have a clue. But from the CV you have in front of you – they should know. After some probing it becomes clear the problem is that the terminology they are used to is different in the UK.
Regardless, nagging doubts start creeping in. How long will this person take to come up to speed? Do they really know as much as their CV suggests?
Don’t let this happen to you!
Of course, this is probably a bit of an exaggeration. The truth is that most UK planning employers have a very good idea of the great things you are capable of, but why leave it to chance? Why not turn this potential problem into a real advantage for you?
What you need to know
This guide is here to help Planners from around the world quickly get familiar with the basics of the UK planning system and what a Town Planner’s role is within it. Familiarising yourself with the UK Planning system may do more than just boost confidence in your interviews and potentially provide the launch pad for a new and exciting opportunity.
The UK planning system
Basic Definition
Fortunately, as you would expect, the Planning systems within Commonwealth Countries share many similarities.
Town & Country Planning in the UK is the structured regulation and development of cities, and land with particular guidance derived from the economic, social, environmental and community issues.
The UK planning profession
The RTPI - Royal Town Planning Institute
The RTPI is a membership organisation and a registered charity. Its aims and functions are similar to those of planning institutes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The RTPI exists to advance the science and art of town planning for the benefit of the public. Most of the RTPI’s members are fully qualified professional planners. RTPI members work in various sectors such as local councils, central government, property developers and other organisations with significant landholdings, as consultants or as university teachers and researchers.
Should you join the RTPI?
It is not a requirement to join the RTPI to secure a planning position in the UK successfully. On the other hand, it proves your commitment to the profession and it certainly looks good on a CV. Some jobs (especially senior positions) may request that the candidate be a member of, or “working towards membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.”
A special arrangement exists for full (chartered or equivalent) members of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) or the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) to apply for Chartered Membership of the RTPI. To qualify, you must successfully pass the Assessment of Professional Competence.
Further information about qualifications and membership requirements for the RTPI is published on the RTPI website here.
Where in the UK are the jobs?
Basic titles and job descriptions
The planning profession for many years used to be mostly in the public sector, but now it has shifted a lot towards the private sector, including independent consultants. By 2023, planners now fall into three main groups:
those working for local government,
private sector consultancies, and
self-employed consultants.
According to RTPI data, 25% of planners left public sector jobs, leading to a big increase in private sector roles. More planners are starting their careers in the private sector instead of switching from public jobs later. Planners are now fairly evenly split between public and private sectors, with about 10% being self-employed. Most planners work full-time on permanent contracts, though details on other work types are not as clear.
Job opportunities in planning are far greater when you have at least 1 and ideally 2 years or more of relevant experience.
Many London boroughs and nearby County Councils in the North, South East, and South West of London employ both British and international planners. County Councils outside London provide different opportunities for your career, lifestyle, and experience in the UK. Besides London, cities like Bristol, Manchester, and Birmingham also offer jobs. You can also look for yourself by searching for recent jobs.
Development Management Planners
Development Control Management Planners deal with day-to-day planning issues across the entire spectrum of the planning profession. The nature of the applications can vary enormously from the householder to large commercial applications – rural to urban. Your ability to communicate effectively and deliver some tasks daily is the most important. Probably the biggest difference for Planners from overseas is the scope of some of the projects and the regulations.
Policy Planners
Policy planners sometimes called Local Plan Planners or Spatial Planners, all entail the same job: creating policy documents for the council to use. These include things like Local Plans, Development Plans, Guidance, and Design Codes.
While the names may sound boring the documents they are creating are actually key strategies that shape the development of a local area for years to come. Policy planners are also in charge of tracking how well their plans are working and collecting data to report back to the central government.
The Transport Planner
Transport Planning is a hot area because of amazing expansion in the UK, including new road and rail projects. Communicating with Engineers and Planners internally and externally is often an integral part of the job. Transport Planning can also tend to be highly computer-based. Employers include both consultancies and LPAs.
The Environmental Planner
The Environmental Planner often works in conjunction with all the other planning roles. Assessment of environmental statements related to developments, sustainability appraisals and developing/implementing policies are common responsibilities.
How to bluff your way in an interview
Firstly, there is no substitute for honesty. But you can try to minimize any interview damage that your lack of UK planning industry knowledge causes. How? Ask lots of open questions. You should really be asking open-ended questions in any interview situation. Asking open questions does two things:
- Shows your interest in whatever you ask about
- Helps you to learn the interests and concerns of the person in front of you
Good open questions are actually essential to good two-way communication. What do I mean by open questions? In very simple terms, rather than asking questions like “Do you employ many British planners?” which could easily get a “yes” or “no” answer (and effectively end the conversation) a better question could be “Could you tell me about the structure of your team?”. Questions that elicit “yes” or “no” answers at the outset of a conversation should usually be avoided.
By reading this page and visiting a few relevant industry links, you will be better prepared than most. Just remember – at the end of the day, the vast majority of UK planning employers love overseas Planners, and they need more Planners – that puts you on a great footing to start your UK Planning job search.
Don’t forget to submit your Resume and Apply for Jobs before you go.
Good luck and have fun!
Table of Contents
Master the Art of Job Hunting in the UK
Your Essential Guide to Navigating and Succeeding in the Competitive UK Job Market
Unlock the secrets to landing your dream job. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or an international job seeker, this book provides the tools you need to craft standout applications, ace interviews, and secure the perfect position. Don’t let the competitive job market hold you back—equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to succeed with this indispensable resource.
