Town planners are involved in shaping our towns, cities and rural areas, making the best use of land and buildings while protecting the environment. They prepare long-term plans, make proposals for new developments and examine the proposals of others.
Planners have to strike a balance between the competing demands for land and its use, whether land should be developed for housing or factories, parks, roads or farming, for example. Planners don’t make decisions on how land should be used, but they do present evidence and make recommendations to planning committees, government departments and developers.
Planners working at county level look at a wide range of issues, including housing, industrial, environmental and ecological needs, and produce plans that set out the priorities and policies for conservation, development and improvement for the area. Planners working for district councils develop detailed local plans, using the county plan as a basis.
Planners may be involved in:
- plans to rebuild or refurbish properties and amenities
- redesigning street layouts to control traffic and improve safety
- developing plans for new housing
- conserving or rebuilding town and city centres
- improving road, rail and tram networks.
Planners help to deal with problems inherited from the past, such as road systems that were not designed for today’s large volumes of traffic. They must also be able to forecast future trends, such as increased need for housing, green spaces or shopping facilities.
Another aspect of the job is examining planning applications. Planners ensure developments fit in with the local or regional policies and assess their impact on neighbours, the wider area and the environment. Where development or changes to land are carried out without permission, planners can take action to stop the work. Where a developer has permission, planners make sure the work meets the conditions laid down.
Planners may have to handle difficult situations, for example proposals for a new factory development that would create jobs but, at the same time, threatens wildlife in the area. They may have to deal with people who are upset or angry about decisions.
The work of a town planner may include:
- visiting sites to assess the effects of developments
- collecting information and writing reports
- analysing data and preparing policies
- using IT systems, such as computer-aided design (CAD) or geographic information systems (GIS)
- advising councillors and other decision-makers
- presenting proposals at planning committees and public meetings
- negotiating between groups with different interests.
In a small department, planners may carry out a wide range of work. In a large department, they are more likely to specialise.
Working as a consultant, a planner may represent individuals, groups or companies and negotiate on their behalf with relevant authorities. Some planners specialise in specific fields, such as historic buildings, conservation, transport or regeneration of deprived areas.
Hours and environment
Planners in local government work standard office hours, but may occasionally have to attend evening meetings. Hours can be more variable in consultancy work, particularly if the work is in different parts of the country or abroad. There are opportunities for part-time work, flexitime and job sharing, especially in the public sector.
Most planners are based in offices, but may have to travel to attend meetings or visit sites.
Salary and other benefits
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and where people live.
- Graduate or assistant planners may earn between €26,000 and €28,000 a year.
- Senior planning officers may earn between around €35,000 and €45,000 a year, with principal planners and team leaders earning between €39,000 and €55,000.
- A chief officer in local government may earn up to €80,000 a year.
Skills and personal qualities
A planner should:
- have good spoken and written communication skills
- be able to carry out research and analyse data
- be aware of conflicting needs and interests, and take a balanced view
- have good negotiating skills
- be capable of presenting proposals and dealing with people who may be angry or upset about planning decisions
- work well in a team
- have a good understanding of maps and plans
- be confident using IT
- be able to work to deadlines.
Interests
It is important to:
- have a strong interest in the built and natural environment
- enjoy working with a wide range of people.
Getting in
The majority of qualified town planners, work for city, district and county councils. Other employers are:
- government departments and agencies such as the NRA, Irish Water, the Highways Agency, national park authorities and regional development agencies
- planning consultancies, ranging from one-person businesses to large firms with international offices
- large firms such as house builders, supermarket chains and water companies
- voluntary and environmental organisations.
There is a shortage of qualified planners throughout the country.
Job vacancies are advertised in local and national newspapers, by local councils in their jobs bulletins and on their websites, on the The Irish Planning Institute website www.ipi.ie and various job websites.
Entry routes
Town planners usually have a degree or postgraduate qualification in a related subject. The three main routes are:
- A first degree in planning accredited by the The Irish Planning institute. This is offered by .
Dublin Institute of Technology
- DT106 BSc in Planning & Environmental Management (4 year undergraduate)
A first degree in a planning-related subject such as architecture, geography, geology, ecology, landscape architecture, economics, statistics or transport, followed by an IIP-accredited Masters degree.Dublin Institute of Technology
- DT123 MSc Spatial Planning (2.5 year part-time postgraduate)
Click here for more information on these courses.
University College Dublin
Master of Regional and Urban Planning (MRUP) – 2-year course
Accelerated 3+1 degree combining: BA Planning, Geography and Environmental Policy and MRUP Accelerated
Click here for more information on these courses.
University College Cork
Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development – MPlan
Click here for more information on this course.
The Institute also accepts, for graduate membership, professionally qualified planners who are already full members of member planning institutes of the European Council of Spatial Planners, and these can then go on to Corporate (full) membership of the Institute after having gained at least two years satisfactory experience in planning after obtaining the relevant membership, or other mechanisms under the EU Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications as defined under Article 11(d) of EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
Training
After gaining a suitable qualification and at least two years’ practical experience in planning, a planner can apply to become a Chartered Town Planner and member of the IPI.
Members of the IPI are expected to update their knowledge and skills through continuing professional development (CPD).
Getting on
Assistant or graduate planners may be able to progress to senior planner posts. Progression can be quicker for chartered planners.
It is also possible to specialise in different areas of planning and move between departments within the same organisation or into managerial posts. There are opportunities to move between public sector employers, between private sector employers or between the two sectors.
There may be opportunities to work abroad.