Step up to a career in town and country planning…and help shape the environment

ContentsWelcome 3

Town and Country Planning 4

A world of opportunity 5

Planning in Scotland 6-7

How do I become a planner? 8

Why study planning? 10-11

Training to be a planner 12-13

Working as a planner 14-19

Published on 10 November 2009

Produced and published on behalf of the Scottish Planning Education Forum by the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland: 57 Melville St, Edinburgh, EH3 7HLtel. 0131 226 1959 fax. 0131 2261909email: scotland@rtpi.org.uk www.scotland.rtpi.org.uk

Registered office: Royal Town Planning Institute, 41 Botolph Lane, London EC3R 8DL. Scottish Charity No. SC 037841 Registered Charity No. 262865

Available on the RTPI in Scotland website at: www.scotland.rtpi.org.uk.

Design and production: Design Links tel. 0131 554 2807Printing: Barr Printers LtdPrinted on Cocoon Preprint fsc recycled paper.

WelcomeThis booklet aims to introduce you to the world of town and country planning, to give an idea of the opportunities offered by the planning profession and to give you insight into the working lives of young planners.

If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the following questions then a career in town and country planning may be for you!

Would you like to be involved in shaping the way our cities, towns and villages grow and change?

Do you want to help care for the earth’s environment and to influence decisions affecting the future of our natural and built heritage and to help combat the effects of climate change?

Would you like to get involved in regeneration and contribute to the creation of successful and sustainable communities?

Would you like to support the creation of new job opportunities and to encourage healthy lifestyles?

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 3

Town and Country Planning

Origins and Philosophy

Town planning was introduced by law in the twentieth century to address unacceptable living conditions in our towns and cities.

Following the second world war, the newly-formed planning profession had an important role in leading post war reconstruction, tackling social and economic problems in Scotland’s cities, in the industrial heartland, in small towns and in remote rural areas.

Today, through the planning system and through the use of their wide ranging skills and knowledge, planners have a key role in creating quality living environments, regenerating towns and rural areas, championing sustainable development, protecting the environment and addressing important issues like climate change.

The planning system influences changes in the built and natural environment through the vision for the future

set out in development plans, and through agreeing planning permission for new developments. The aim is to get the right development in the right place at the right time, which results in quality places where people want to be. Public involvement is fundamental to making the right decisions about the future of a place and is vital to good planning.

Good design is also a fundamental element of good planning. It is not just about architecture; it is about the places and spaces in between buildings and how they link to existing places and landscape and the life of the community.

Planners are involved in many different types of work with a wide variety of organisations:

working in local government creating development plans and negotiating decisions on applications for planning permission;

working in central government to develop national policy and guidance;

working in development companies such as house builders, national retailers or renewable energy companies, identifying and promoting opportunities for new developments;

working in a private consultancy firm to advise developers on all aspects of their proposals, undertaking specialist assessments of the potential effects of development and coordinating inputs from other professionals;

working in a government body such as Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland, or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, providing specialist advice on development proposals;

working in voluntary organisations such as RSPB, representing particular interests and influencing decision-making across the planning system; or

working in a University as an academic researcher or lecturer, supporting the development of knowledge and understanding within the profession and encouraging a new generation of planners.

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 5

A world of opportunity

Opportunities for Planners

Development Planning

In Scotland the National Planning Framework (NPF) sets out a strategy for long term future development and identifies large scale national priority projects. It informs local authority development plans. The NPF is developed by planners in central government working closely with key agencies, national interest groups and local communities.

Development plans guide where development can take place, and where it is unlikely to be permitted. They are the basis for dealing with planning applications and contain policies for the future development and use of land in an area. They cover a wide range of issues such as housing, transport, employment, shopping, recreation, conservation and protection of the countryside.

Development plans are prepared by local councils and have to be revised every five years. Local development plans cover every part of Scotland. Strategic development plans are prepared for the four main city regions of Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow and their surrounding areas.

Development plans are important because they are used as the basis for deciding applications for planning permission. Many different people are interested in what they propose including developers, communities and national bodies. Everyone is given the opportunity to get involved at the different stages in the preparation of a development plan.

Planning in Scotland

Development Management

Development management is the decision-making process that deals with planning applications. Decisions are made based on the development plan but also take into account other relevant issues. Where planning permission is refused or where conditions are imposed, applicants can make an appeal against the decision.

Planners working in development management are responsible for bringing together all the matters relevant to an application, undertaking an assessment of all these matters and making a balanced recommendation on whether to grant or refuse planning permission.

A Guide to the Planning System (published 2009)

is available on line at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/

Publications/2009/08/11133705/0

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 7

Planning in Scotland

Work experience can help you decide…

If you are a school leaver or a graduate, make the most of work experience placements which may be arranged through your school, college or university, or directly with some employers. Even a short unpaid assignment can give you valuable insight into what it means to be a planner, and can help you decide if this is the career for you.

Talk to someone who does the job that you are interested in; or make an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.

It is also helpful to attend open days at universities to find out about the courses on offer and to see if the location, department and programme feel right for you.

How do I become a planner?

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 9

How do I become a planner?

Why study planning?

George Weeks

A former student at the University of Glasgow and winner of the RTPI 2008 Award for Outstanding Student Achievement in Planning Education.

“I have been interested in the look and development of

the built environment for as long as I can remember.

This was fi rst identifi ed when, at age 12, I realised

how much I enjoyed playing Sim City 2000! I enjoyed

studying planning because it gave me the chance to

apply principles and concepts to real-life scenarios, such

as the redevelopment of a former armaments factory in

Bishopton, near Glasgow. The course that I took was

accredited both by the RTPI and the RICS, which meant

that I was able to gain a greater understanding of the

commercial realities of building houses and offi ces, while

attaching this to considerations such as design and

government policy.”

Why study planning?

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 11

Simon Fraser

Final Year student of Town and Regional Planning, University of Dundee.

“Town Planning is an all encompassing subject that

lets you delve into the workings of the world we live

in. Communication; mediation; teamwork; analytical

thinking; presentations and IT skills are all developed

during the University programme, particularly within

the practical projects that are set. These are all

transferable skills, and this is why I feel that my four

years spent at the University of Dundee have been more

than worthwhile. It is hard to describe such a varied

programme in so few words but I hope this goes some

way to showing that the stereotypical view of a planner

sitting at a desk, stamping planning applications

with “refused” or “granted” could not be further from

the truth.”

Tendai Mutasa

A student at the Heriot Watt University and winner of the Jim Boyack Trust Award 2008.

“I wanted a change of career and thought of the

problems facing town planning in my home country

(Zimbabwe). My first year was at South Bank University

in London where the staff were very helpful in

encouraging me in a new educational environment after

ten years out of education. I then studied for the BSc

Urban and Regional Planning degree at Heriot-Watt

University: I enjoy the diversity of the planning system;

the benefit of having lecturers who have practised as

planners before; and the many practising planners

who give presentations to keep us up-to-date on the

modernisation of the planning system in Scotland”.

Links to Royal Town Planning Institute accredited courses in Scotland are provided below:

University of Aberdeen www.abdn.ac.uk/cpem/

University of Dundee www.dundee.ac.uk/planning/

University of Glasgow www.gla.ac.uk/departments/urbanstudies/ postgraduatestudy/realestateplanningregeneration/

Heriot-Watt University www.undergraduate.hw.ac.uk/courses/ view/K440/

University of Strathclyde - Masters in Urban Design: www.strath.ac.uk/architecture/courses/ mscpgdipurbandesign/

Further information on planning as a career is available on the RTPI website at: www.rtpi.org.uk/ education_and_careers/education

Training to be a planner

The right route for you

Training to be a planner

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 13

Developing your skills

Like many other professions, the need to study good practice does not end when you leave university. Once you have completed your degree and are employed as a graduate you need to gain your professional practice qualification. All planners are committed to continuing professional development and the ‘Assessment of Professional Competence’ (APC) ensures that a high standard in the quality of planners is achieved by membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Full details of the APC are available on the RTPI website at: http://www.rtpi.org.uk/education_ and_careers/education/

The Scottish Young Planners Network

The Scottish Young Planners Network was set up by the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland in 2003 to be the voice of Scottish Young Planners in the RTPI. Focused on bringing young planners from across the country together, a steering group organises a range of learning and social events throughout the year. The steering group also organises the very popular Scottish Young Planners Annual Conference. To keep you up to date with what is going on for young planners in Scotland there is a dedicated website http://www.rtpi.org.uk/scotland_young_planners/, a twice yearly newsletter and interaction with the regular bulletin from the UK Young Planners network. The steering group comprises young planners who work on a voluntary basis as well as the Director of the RTPI in Scotland.

WORKING IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Simon Bonsall, Senior Planner, Scottish Government

“Planning has the potential to open your eyes to other worlds if you let it. Working for the Scottish Government, requires you to make use of all of your skills; from your technical and policy knowledge to your abilities in facilitation and explanation”.

My qualifications: MA(Hons) Town and Country Planning

My career history: I began work as a Student Planner in Development Control with Milton Keynes Council – I would recommend taking a placement year to any planning student – and then moved to Warrington Borough Council as a Development Control Officer.

My current job: I began work with Scottish Government as a Graduate Planner and have progressed to Senior Planner. To be a planner for the Scottish Government means: supporting Planning Authorities in the implementation of the modernised planning system; being at the forefront of policy development; facing up to the challenges of hard spatial planning decisions in the interests of Scotland as a whole; and advising Scottish Ministers of the appropriate planning dimension to enable a decision to be made. Involvement in many cross Government working groups has really improved my understanding of governance and the influences on people and place.

The future: After 5 years of post-graduation practice in planning I still feel that this is a great career choice. The Government offers a flexible path which could include a move towards greater management responsibilities; considering different aspects of planning policy or practice; or even a move into a different area of Government such as housing, regeneration or environmental policy.

Working as a planner

Career Profiles Planning is a varied and interesting career. Here some professional planners, RTPI members, tell you why they chose planning and what it offers them.

Working as a planner

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 15

WORKING IN NON DEPARTMENTAL PUBLIC BODIES

Zoë Kemp, Operations Manager, Scottish Natural Heritage

“Planning is a good career if you like problem solving, enjoy working with people and want to contribute to delivering great places for people to live and work. It is more than just about dormer windows and house extensions, it should be about creating the beautiful places of tomorrow.”

My qualifications: BSc (Hons) Ecological Science, MSc Environmental Management Post-graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning (DURP), Diploma in Management and Leadership.

My career history: I began working at SNH as an Area Officer after my Masters and soon started working on planning consultations from the local authority. As I grew more confident I was given more complex cases,

including wind farm proposals. I was also given the opportunity to comment on a Local Plan. I realised that the planning system was more complex than I had imagined and it could be a profoundly powerful tool to manage or affect the natural heritage. I took a part-time course in Urban and Regional Planning at Heriot-Watt University and became a Planning Adviser supporting our Area Officers, answering technical planning questions, and offering advice and guidance on planning casework and development plans.

My current job: I now manage a team of Area Officers. We have a close relationship with our local Planning Authority and recently held a joint training session for the Area Officer and Planning Officer teams. The combination of ecology/environmental management and planning is highly valued, and as issues such as climate change and river basin management come up the agenda will be even more in demand.

The future: The planning system is probably one of the most important tools that we have for managing natural heritage. Few people have such potential power to affect the way others live their lives than planners!

WORKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Donna Laing, Planning Trainee, Aberdeen City Council

Development Planning

“I love the variety that my job gives me and the opportunity for interaction with many different people.”

My qualifications: BSc Occupational Therapy, MSc (Hons) Social Anthropology and Sociology, MRes Social Anthropology, Ethnology and Cultural History. I am currently in the first year of a part-time MSc Rural Planning and Environmental Management course.

My career history: My occupational therapy training gave me insight into how people with disabilities engage with space. The jump into planning came about after a conversation with my younger sister who suggested that working as a planner involved with the development plan would be a great job for me.

Two weeks later Aberdeen City Council advertised the trainee planner positions and my fate was sealed.

My current job: I began work at the same time as a number of other trainees and the support we get from our work is fantastic. I especially find the experience of learning about the theory at university and then coming into work and doing the practical hugely rewarding. I work within the Development Plan Team and have also worked within the Masterplanning and Design team to write a development framework. The framework sets out the way in which an area, which is in multiple ownership, is to be developed. The process involved consultation with the local community, community council, the landowners and other interested parties.

The future: I feel that the career prospects within planning are good. Once I have completed my Licentiate period, there will be an opportunity to become a Senior Planner or Team Leader. Also, I could progress into other areas such as urban design, landscape planning or conservation and heritage. I feel that planning offers a wide range of areas in which I could specialise in years to come and I am excited about that prospect.

Working as a planner

Working as a planner

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 17

WORKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Andrew Trigger, Planning Officer, City of Edinburgh Council

Development Management

“Whilst we are not always consciously aware of it,

planning has an influence over everything we do or come

into contact with – home, work, education, health, leisure.

Being a planner puts you at the heart of decision-making

that can change a way of life for many people”.

My qualifications: BSc (Hons) in Town and Regional Planning – University of Dundee (2004), Corporate Member of RTPI (2006).

Why I chose a career in planning: When I was younger, I had two main interests – football and Scottish history. Sadly, the football career never took off but planning provided a direct route into working with the nation’s heritage. Having an identifiable impact that enhances the physical development of an historic

city such as Edinburgh does provide a sense of job satisfaction. At the moment, the money isn’t too bad either!

My current job: I am part of a team responsible for determining applications ranging from minor house alterations to significant residential and commercial developments across central, south and east Edinburgh. The challenge often comes from balancing the conflicting views of the public, community bodies, professional agents, government agencies, applicants, elected members and your own management.

The future: City of Edinburgh Council has a clear hierarchical structure that recognises the need to retain and reward promising planners. The authority also supports movement between planning policy, development management and enforcement to provide experience of different aspects of the profession. For me, progression in a local authority is where I would like to see myself heading but, at the same time, I have a strong desire to experience planning in some other part of the globe.

WORKING IN TRANSPORT PLANNNING

Alan Simpson, Planning Trainee, Aberdeen City Council

“Planning gives you the chance to improve the places you live in, not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of those around you. Ultimately it is about creating a place where people want to be”.

My qualifications: I graduated in 2004 from the University of Aberdeen with an MA Hons 2:1 in Geography and Management Studies.

Why I chose a career in planning: After I graduated, I lived my boyhood dream of working with cars at a car dealership in Dundee. After two years, I started investigating transport-related jobs, and stumbled upon the job with Aberdeen City Council. The job offered really good training and great career progression.

It was definitely the right decision. Aberdeen City Council’s vision is to “Grow our own Planners”. As a result, we are given the chance to obtain a professional planning qualification. In my case, this involves going back to University on day release, one day per week, in order to study for a Masters in Rural Planning and Environmental Management.

My current job: I work in a section called Infrastructure Programmes, which aims to improve the transport infrastructure in and around Aberdeen City. Although people tend to associate transport with roads, rail and sea, the remit also incorporates walking and cycling. The job has plenty of variety and is never boring. A large part of my job has involved the promotion of our work and speaking to members of the public to ensure that they can see plans and give us their ideas and feedback. I play a part in so many different projects. This means I can walk around the city and find projects I have helped to implement. It’s really satisfying.

Working as a planner

Working as a planner

Step up to a career in town and country planning : 19

WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Fiona Clandillon, Associate, Ryden

“The built environment makes a huge impact on how we feel and how we behave. If you care about the links between development and economic prosperity, sustaining communities, good design and human nature, planning can be extremely rewarding”.

My qualifications: BA (Hons) in European Studies from the University of Limerick, Masters in Urban & Regional Planning from Heriot-Watt University.

Why I chose a career in planning: In the 1990s in Ireland, planning was in the news for all the wrong reasons - corruption and collusion between local politicians and business. The debate around the need for a stronger planning system to protect the natural and

built environment really interested me. Reading ‘Cities for a Smaller Planet’ by Richard Rogers made my mind up.

My current job: Since 2002, I have worked in the private sector of planning. It’s difficult to get bored because of the sheer variety of issues that developments and sites present. It is our job to resolve these and help projects get built.

Key skills are advocacy, mediation, negotiation and an ability to set out the right planning and development strategy for a project. I also provide consultancy work for the public sector, for example finding new and viable uses for listed buildings or neglected land, which can make a really positive contribution to a community.

The future: The best aspects of the job are the huge variety of work we do and the opportunity it provides to work with landowners, developers and designers to help a place prosper. It’s a great creative process to be at the heart of.

The RTPI in Scotland is very grateful for assistance from Roger Kelly MRTPI and David Morrison MRTPI and to the members of the Scottish Young Planners Network for their advice, contributions and help in the production of this document.

Our thanks and acknowledgements for the photographs used in the publication go to the following:

Front cover: © Charles Strang; and to City of Edinburgh Council for their support.

Page 2:(1) St Margaret University, Edinburgh © Scottish Government(2) Haghill Windfarm © Scottish Government(3) Kibble Palace, Glasgow © Crown Copyright(4) The Green, Aberdeen © Scottish Enterprise

Page 3: (1) Ellon Masterplan // Illustration: The Prince’s Foundation with

UDA // © Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment (2) Glenboig Village Park © SNH

Page 4: © Kate Henderson/City of Edinburgh Council

Page 6: Aberdeen Harbour – source Aberdeen City and Shire SDPA

Page 7:(1) Falkirk Wheel © Scottish Government(2) Hopetoun St, Edinburgh for Bryant Homes by Yeoman

McAllister Architects © Bruce Nicholson, CEC

(3) Dumbreck Marsh Nature Reserve, Kilsyth © SNH

Page 8: © WMUD Willie Miller Urban Design

Page 9:(1) New Abbey © Scottish Government(2) Little Loch Broom from Scoraig - Photo: Colin Wishart(3) Kincardine O’Neil © Scottish Government(4) Maryhill Locks, Glasgow (larger photo to left) – an SSCI

exemplar © Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership - www.glasgowcanal.co.uk

Page 10:(1) Knockroon Masterplan // © Prince’s Foundation for the Built

Environment(2) Glasgow and the Clyde © Glasgow City Council

Page 12:(from top-left photo moving anti-clockwise)(1) Gilbert Scott Building, University of Glasgow © University

of Glasgow(2) University of Dundee planning students © Tracey Dixon(3) Heriot-Watt University entrance © Heriot-Watt University(4) © University of Aberdeen

Page 13: Scottish Young Planners Conference 2007: courtesy of Scottish Young Planners Network

Acknowledgements and Credits