Town planning assistant
Town planning assistants process development applications, gather site data, create technical plans and give advice on regulations.
Also known as: Town planning technician
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£32,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As a town planning assistant, you could:
- research information on land and property registers
- gather data, take photos and check maps on site visits
- prepare reports on potential development sites
- manage technical libraries, filing systems and databases
- draw up plans using computer-aided design software
- carry out surveys, like traffic impact assessments
- advise on planning and environmental regulations
- organise public consultations and answer enquiries about application procedures
Working environment
You could work in an office or visit sites.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of geography
- the ability to work well with others
- analytical thinking skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- customer service skills
- business management skills
- legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
- maths skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a town planning assistant
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
University
You can do a degree accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute before applying for a job as an assistant.
Subjects include:
- planning, environment and development
- city and regional planning
- urban planning and property development
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You can take a college course to learn some of the skills needed for the job, which may help when applying for a trainee position.
Courses include:
- construction and the built environment
- civil engineering for technicians
- T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You can apply for a place on a Town Planning Assistant Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
This typically takes around 2 years to complete and is a mix of on-the-job training and off-site study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Direct application
You can apply directly for a trainee position. You'll need a minimum of GCSEs in maths, English and ICT, along with A levels or equivalent in subjects like:
- geography
- environmental studies
- business studies
- economics
You may have an advantage if you have experience in:
- administration
- computer-aided design (CAD)
- construction
- surveying
Some employers may ask for a degree qualification.
Restrictions and requirements
You may need a driving licence to visit development sites.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a team leader or move on to technician level. With further study, you could become a qualified town planner.
You might also set up your own business and offer consultancy support in areas like planning law, environmental regulations and sustainable design.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Royal Town Planning Institute for networking, events and professional development training opportunities.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleTown planner
- Job roleBuilding control officer
- Job rolePlanning and development surveyor
- Job roleCartographer
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0