Royal Town Planning Institute

Funding to support Local Plan implementation The government has announced a minimum of £14 million of funding to support local authorities with local plan-making. This new funding will be available to eligible authorities producing plans in both the legacy and new plan making systems.

DID YOU KNOW | The government has announced a minimum of £14m to support local authorities with local plan-making. This funding is in addition to the £29m awarded in January and March 2025.

Learn more:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-to-support-local-plan-implementation

Head shot of Cerys Atchison

Head shot of Daniel James

RTPI's Practitioner Research Fund has granted funding to two innovative projects starting in 2026.
Congratulations to Cerys Atchison at CA Town Planning and Daniel James at Plan Research

Learn more about their projects:
www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

The 5th edition of the TCPA & @rtpiplanners.bsky.social climate guide sets out how local authorities can use planning powers to:
✅ cut emissions
✅ strengthen local resilience
✅ protect communities from the impacts of climate change

Explore the free topic resources: www.tcpa.org.uk/collection/p...

Read more: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

The Government has announced plans for a major overhaul of England’s planning system through proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

We will be holding roundtables from 12 – 23 January for members in England to guide our response.

The RTPI and @thetcpa.bsky.social have published a new guide to help local authorities consider climate impacts in all planning decisions.

The guide is considered the ‘gold standard’ for planning guidance at local level.

Read the guide now:
www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/pl...

Are you a local authority planning officer, councillor or practitioner interested in how planning can deliver climate action?

On 10 December the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social & TCPA will launch the 5th edition of their guidance on planning for climate change.

Webinar registration: shorturl.at/Vp97f

RTPI commends the significant funding announced in today’s #budget but urges that long-term investment is key to building capacity.

The chancellor has pledged an extra £48m to boost capacity in the planning system.

Read reaction from @victoriartpi.bsky.social:
www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

New findings from an RTPI survey of more than 2,500 planners reveal that 20% of respondents in the UK expect to leave the profession within the next three years – with no clear pipeline to replace them.

Read the State of the Profession report:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/stateoftheprofession

Simon Creer, RTPI Director of Communications and External Affairs shares his view on planning and AI - a question of humanity?

Read more:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/planning-and-ai-a-question-of-humanity/

We officially launched 'It takes planners & you' last week with a special projection in Gateshead.

Now we want everyone in planning to share their own reflections, stories, & local successes that show how collaboration creates change:
www.rtpi.org.uk/about-the-rt...

#PlannersAndYou

Reflections from an RTPI Scotland intern | Championing the power of planning As my time at RTPI Scotland comes to an end, I want to offer some reflections on my time as Intern Project Officer.

"My role has had me engaging with members across Scotland, seeking their thoughts on how the profession should respond to planning policy."

Joseph Ashmore reflects on his experience as Intern Project Officer:https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/reflections-from-an-rtpi-scotland-intern/

Does Grand Falls offer lessons for proposed UK new towns?

Brian Whiteley, Planning Advisor for Planning Aid England, looks at the Canadian garden city to find out.

Read more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/lessons-from-canada-for-uk-new-towns/

Updates from across Parliament | Championing the power of planning In typical Parliamentary fashion, the run-up to the end of this year is a flurry of report publications, consultations and announcements

Aisling Byrne, RTPI Senior Public Affairs Officer breaks down findings and recommendations for three key Committee reports.

Read her blog: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/updates-from-across-parliament/

Join the RTPI's #WorldTownPlanningDay 2025 online programme, which brings together case studies from the UK and around the world, fostering the exchange of ideas globally.

👉Register for the free webinars at:
www.rtpi.org.uk/wtpd

This year's theme is 'With Planning We Can'

A new development of houses with an enclosed fence of long grass in the foreground

Learn about planning for rural places in the October edition of Planning Research Matters - a hub showcasing research from RTPI-accredited planning schools.

Projects include Rural Exception Sites, commuting from rural places and rural gentrification.

Read more:
www.rtpi.org.uk/policy-and-r...

Senior Public Affairs Officer Aisling Byrne takes you through where we are with the two Planning bills and it's good news for our Chief Planners amendment...

Read the blog here:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/aisling-byrne-bills-bills-bills/

Thanks for sharing Alison 👍

Victoria Hills and Matthew Pennycook sitting at a roundtable with others at the Labour Party Conference with the new RTPI banner behind them.

"Liverpool showed that planning is central to Government’s growth mission, but delivery will stand or fall on capacity, leadership and skills."

RTPI's Senior Public Affairs Officer Lazaros Tsenekidis reflects on the #LabourPartyConference.
Read more: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

Next generation of new towns must be future-proof The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has described the Government’s decision to press ahead with a new generation of new towns as one of the most ambitious development initiatives in more than fif...

The RTPI described the Government’s new towns announcement as one of the most ambitious development initiatives in more than 50 years – and one that must be built on lessons from the past if it is to succeed.

Read the RTPI's response:
www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

RTPI has signed a joint letter with more than 30 organisations calling for £6.8m in urgent funding to support Planning Schools to continue to recruit and train apprentice planners.

Read the joint letter:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/letter-to-matthew-pennycook-mp-minister-for-housing-and-planning/

This blog explores a landmark decision last autumn in which Gloucestershire County Council approved the county's largest-ever mineral development project.

Read the blog:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/the-pivotal-role-of-planning-in-gloucestershires-largest-mineral-development/

🏘️🗺️🏙️The @rtpiplanners.bsky.social has confirmed the re-accreditation of our MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration. 💬RTPI President @helenfadipe.bsky.social said, "Cambridge's MPhil ... demonstrates the mix of academic rigour and real-world relevance we look for in RTPI-accredited programmes."

RTPI re-accredits Cambridge’s MPhil in planning, keeping more routes to Chartered status open The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has confirmed the re-accreditation of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Land Economy taught MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration, keeping door ...

Find out more: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

Three people are sitting at a table in a library. A man is on a desktop computer and two women are working together on their laptop and notebooks, with bookshelves in the background.

We are delighted to re-accredit the University of Cambridge’s MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration.

It means graduates of the spatial planning programme will be eligible to begin the Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence, a key step toward becoming a Chartered Town Planner.

The 2025 round of RTPI Research Grants is open for applications.
The programme funds new, innovative, high quality, and impactful planning research.

Learn more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/policy-and-research/research-and-practice/rtpi-research-grants/practitioner-research-fund-grant-applications/

The RTPI has launched Empower 2030, its strategic plan for 2025–2030, setting a route to strengthen the planning profession, enhance member value, and grow its membership.

Read more:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/about-the-rtpi/who-we-are/our-strategic-priorities/empower-2030-the-rtpi-strategic-plan/

A big congratulations to the editors of 'The Future for Planners' on winning the Royal Town Planning Institute Patsy Healey award! 🌟🎉 @rtpiplanners.bsky.social

🔶Find out more about the award: buff.ly/E981TeS
🔶Find the book: buff.ly/dFCv38J

Congratulations to the 5 winning entries for the 2025 RTPI Awards for Research Excellence. 🙌

Discover the winners 👇
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/events-training-and-awards/awards/rtpi-awards-for-research-excellence/

Introducing the new RTPI brand. Empowering planners. Connecting people. Championing the planning profession.
Explore the thinking behind the brand – https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/our-fresh-new-brand-is-here/