What is a town planner?

What is a town planner?

Town planners work with developers, landowners and local authorities to design and create functional and sustainable urban areas that meet the needs of residents and local communities. They do not construct buildings themselves. Instead, they recommend where they should be built and how they can be used to create spaces where people live, work and achieve a good quality of life.  

Town planners in England must prioritise sustainability in development by balancing social, economic and physical demands with energy efficiency and environmental factors when making their decisions. That means not looking at single developments in isolation, but considering the bigger picture on a local, regional and national level to develop urban areas that meet the public interest.    

What does a town planner do?

The role of a town planner differs depending on who they work for. For example, a town planner working for a developer will have different objectives than a local authority planner. However, generally speaking, their tasks and responsibilities focus on the following:

• Working with developers to find suitable sites, create plans and secure planning permission
• Preparing and assessing planning applications for new buildings and land uses and considering the needs of various stakeholders
• Presenting planning proposals to committees and other stakeholders
• Protecting buildings and areas of historical, architectural or environmental importance
• Advising developers on everything from environmental regulations to building procedures to give projects the best chance of approval
• Meeting architects, developers and local people to explain proposals and invite their views
• Using data analysis to evaluate the impact of planning policy on communities
• Marking up suitable land for development
• Assisting with the creation and implementation of transport policies and strategies, utilities and public services to support growing communities

Town planners are commonly known by several other names, including spatial planner, urban designer and planning officer, to name a few. 

Who do town planners work with?

Town planners can work and engage with a wide variety of stakeholders. Town planners for developers work closely with construction professionals including architects, builders, civil engineers, landscape architects, traffic engineers and surveyors. They also liaise with the local council and must understand their planning regulations and standards for small and large developments.

Town planners also actively engage with the local community, asking for their input and addressing their concerns. That community can include residents, businesses, politicians and pressure groups.     

When do I need a town planner?

If you have a development idea you want to explore, one of the first professionals to contact is a town planner. They will advise you whether your proposals will meet local planning regulations. They will also help you navigate the planning system, from environmental regulations to building procedures, to give your project the best chance of approval.

A town planner can provide critical feedback at the design stage of a development. That will help to remove potential issues and improve the development’s sustainability, inclusivity and impact on the local community. They can also facilitate conversations with local stakeholders to streamline communication. 

Easing the approval process

Our urban and town planning services deliver successful outcomes and added value for our clients. We work on all sizes of projects, from small housebuilding schemes to new towns and renewable energy projects across the UK. Read more about our town planning services and get in touch to discuss your development with our team.