Town Planner

Job Description

A town planner is responsible for the design and development of urban areas, such as towns and cities. As a town planner, you would ensure there is balance between demands on the land being developed and the needs of the community. This can be on a national, regional, or local level and requires an awareness of the environmental and economic impacts of a proposed development.As a town planner, you will be responsible for-managing the development of new areas in cities, towns and the countryside. You will review existing areas, assist in gaining planning permission for developments and ensure that developments are assessed for the environmental and economic impacts.A town planners main responsibility is to ease or avoid social, economic and environmental problems within their town of employment. They achieve this by making recommendations to local elected officials that reflect the needs of the town.Their recommendations for neighborhood sectors or citywide may work to alleviate current problems or they may make proposals for new legislation or buildings. When approaching an existing problem planners must identify the root of the problem as well as any related issues. When proposing a new facility or regulation, it is crucial that planners make recommendations only after extensive research and data collection in order to make suggestions that are in the towns best interest, and lessen the chance that problems will arise in the future.When making recommendations to local government officials, including zoning, proposals for new public buildings, parks or utilities, town planners should keep in mind the long and short-term goals for the towns growth. Another major responsibility of a town planner is to develop these goals, most likely through research and discussions with elected officials. In keeping these goals in mind, planners work to ensure that the environment, economy and society are flourishing as the town grows.The job role of a town planner involves the following duties:
• Developing planning policy at a national, regional or local level, taking into account transport, the local economy, jobs, green infrastructure, renewable energy, climate change and the historic environment
• Reviewing and monitoring existing planning policy documents
• Assisting with the preparation and implementation of transport policies and strategies to create an efficient transport network, possibly including cycle routes, rail and road routes and or runways
• Helping to ensure that areas are attractive, safe and pleasant to live, work in and visit
• Working to energize places that have become run-down
• Balancing the needs of a growing population with environmental impacts
• Conducting appropriate research to inform planning applications
• Helping to draft and review planning applications
• Assisting with consultations and negotiations with consultants and developers
• Enforcing planning controls for developments
• Preparing policy or guidance documents on how to manage historic environments, or refurbish or re-use listed buildings
• Assisting with the provision of services to clients and contributing to projects
• Producing planning submissions, appeals, design and access statements and other documents
• Managing a client portfolio
• Developing business relationships
• Running public consultations.

Keyskills :
outsourcing projectsconstruction managementtown planningon screen takeoffarchitectural designproject biddingcost estimationgeographymaster planning