Work with, and provide technical and administrative support to chartered town planners.
This occupation is found in the planning, construction, architectural, infrastructure, environmental and local government sectors. Town Planning Assistants may work in local authorities, small consultancies, large multi-disciplinary consultancies, central government or other organisations undertaking planning work.. The broad purpose of the occupation is to work with, and provide technical and administrative support to Chartered Town Planners to deliver new developments and to shape and create sustainable places for the benefit of the public. They also help members of the public and/or clients to navigate the planning system and explain its rules and requirements. The work includes both office based work and site visits. Town Planning Assistants need to be willing and able to travel for site visits. Town Planning Assistants research and compile site history and undertake initial site analysis for developments including producing documentation and graphical representations as well as checking compliance with legislation and environmental designations. They assist Chartered Town Planners with community engagement and consultation and provide members of the public, clients and councillors with relevant planning advice. Town Planning Assistants manage a caseload of planning applications under supervision and support Chartered Town Planners to deliver projects. Town Planning Assistants who are Associate Members of the Royal Town Planning Institute must abide by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Code of Professional Conduct and ethical standards They must also abide by an Employer Code of Conduct.. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of both internal and external stakeholders such as Chartered Town Planners, developers and clients, as well as members of the public and local councillors. They also need to interact with specialists in a range of occupations including Architects, Surveyors, Building Control, Housing Officers, Urban Designers, Ecologists, Historic Environment Officers, Transport Planners and Landscape Architects. The role is varied, office based with meetings and visits on site.. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for their own work including undertaking preliminary research, initial analysis and interpretation of written policy documents, case law and planning legislation, and planning history of a site or area and making recommendations to Chartered Town Planners. They work under the supervision of Chartered Town Planners for more complex analysis and assessment work including writing reports and processing major planning applications. They are expected to manage their workload to set deadlines and work in accordance with health and safety and environmental considerations..
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Duty 1 Research and compile site history including any land use policy restrictions and constraints |
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Duty 2 Undertake initial site analysis through site visits, taking site photographs, analysis of maps |
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Duty 3 Measure proposals for development, as represented on a site plan or in elevation, to understand the size and scale of the proposed buildings and structures |
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Duty 4 Summarise policy constraints, site research and baseline analysis with regards to planning applications or proposal for developments and present the information clearly and concisely in written and verbal format to Chartered Town Planners |
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Duty 5 Review environmental and other specialist designations and reports to provide a preliminary assessment of the environmental and physical impact of planning applications and/or development proposals. |
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Duty 6 Monitor and check proposals for development, planning applications and/or completed proposals for compliance against relevant local, strategic and national planning requirements including statutory obligations and conditions. Commence Enforcement investigations under the supervision of a Chartered Town Planner. |
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Duty 7 Apply relevant legislation and national and locally adopted policy when working on planning projects and casework. |
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Duty 8 Provide clear and relevant advice to members of the public, councillors, agents and/or clients on planning issues, face to face, by phone and by email and other communications. |
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Duty 9 Manage a caseload of straight-forward planning applications and representations to development plans under supervision. |
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Duty 10 Assist Chartered Town Planners with consultation and/or community engagement on planning applications and/or strategic or local plans including taking part in technical discussions on proposals for development with members of the public and/or councillors and justifying the stance you take. |
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Duty 11 Attend and speak at planning meetings, in an office environment and on site, and keep an accurate record of meetings |
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Duty 12 Support Chartered Town Planners to deliver projects including following a project plan and ensuring key timescales are met. |
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Duty 13 Describe and code plans, planning documents, and supporting material accurately within a relevant workplace document filing system or casework management system |
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Duty 14 Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, knowing who to consult and seeking advice from other disciplines where relevant |
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Duty 15 Prepare documentation including graphical representations, maps and site plans and present to clients and/or local authority committee under supervision. |
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Duty 16 Assist Chartered Town Planners with planning appeals, collating casework materials and supporting documentation and responding to written evidence and other planning information presented by the opposing side. |
K1: Legislation and Policy: The features of current town planning regulations, policy and guidance. Appreciation of the implications of case law for planning applications and statutory plan making
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K2: Planning Process: Forms of development management and development plans that happen in planning and their supporting administrative processes. How to respond to requests for technical information about proposals and planning issues.
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K3: Data collection: Where to find current and historical data on single sites and wider areas for development.
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K4: Environmental procedures and sustainability: The features of environmental and ecological designations and processes relevant to the planning system. Where to find information identifying potential flood risk for developments and matters such as energy and climate change.
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K5: Conservation and design: The features of the natural and historic environment that can be affected by developments and how they can and should be protected by the planning system. The features of technical constraints related to design.
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K6: Conditions, appeals and enforcement: The features of monitoring compliance of authorised and unauthorised developments and support the processing of planning appeals.
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K7: Stakeholder engagement: The wider decision making and political context in which planners work. Including the types and sizes of organisations working in planning, statutory authorities and other consultees, including the local community
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K8: Mapping and graphics: Map preparation and analysis including taking measurements from maps. Methods and techniques for creating and explaining graphical representations including specialist graphic tools and mapping technologies as appropriate, and taking site photographs.
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K9: Health and Safety: Responsibilities under health and safety legislation on safe working practices
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K10: Size and scale: How to assess the size and scale of developments and structures in relation to planning policy and impact on adjacent developments
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K11: Report writing: How to select and present information about policy constraints, site research and baseline analysis
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K12: Project Management: The requirements for projects, including timescales, deadlines, cost implications, and identifying milestones/targets
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S1: Data analysis: Research, collate and compare data relating to development proposals, applications and other planning considerations
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S2: Policy analysis: Apply legislation, local and national policy and regulations to projects and casework
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S3: Site analysis: Take and edit site photographs correctly, and take site visit notes accurately
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S4: Report writing: Write reports and summaries and prepare initial documentation for planning proposals and policy representations
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S5: Communication: Communicate effectively with members of the public, clients and other stakeholders. Respond to queries in writing and verbally. Use community engagement techniques to encourage participation in the planning system.
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S6: Casework: Process own casework of projects including checking planning documentation for completeness and taking action in response to missing documentation
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S7: Data monitoring: Consult, create and where necessary maintain records on relevant planning registers
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S8: Mapping: Create accurate drawings, maps and digital illustrations. Interpret drawings and maps, and use appropriate mapping tools
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S9: Presentation – internal: Discuss and present planning information, documentation and findings to colleagues
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S10: Presentation – external: Prepare and deliver presentations to external audiences e.g. members of the public or other community or professional stakeholders
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S11: Administration: Provide administrative support to line managers and peers. Keep an accurate record of meetings. Use appropriate case management systems.
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B1: Take care for their own health and safety
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B2: Reliability, integrity and respect for confidentiality on work related and personal matters, including appropriate use of social media and information systems. Follows their employers Code of Conduct.
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B3: Commitment to their own Continuing Professional Development
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B4: Work effectively both on their own and as part of a team
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B5: Demonstrate time management skills, prioritise workload, work under pressure and be able to meet critical deadlines
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This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
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| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
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| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 15/06/2021 | Not set |
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