To extend the student’s understanding of the practice, process and administration of the planning system and of the role of planners in it and of the views, needs and requirements of all those who participate in it and emerging trends and developments in planning practice;
To develop the critical skills needed by planners to operate effectively – including the ability to negotiate, communicate and relate legislation and contemporary priorities to plan making, regulation and development within and beyond spatial planning;
To develop a clear understanding of the application of professional values and morals and ethics in planning;
To critically consider the role and sustainability and global context of planning practice;
To equip students with a clear understanding of gaining employment and the world of work and deliver effective and high-quality planning services.

(LO1) On completion of the module, students should be able to understand the informal and formal processes involved in dealing with planning applications and preparing development and other plans and strategies and the external influences on the planning system.

(LO2) On completion of the module, students should be better informed about the main contemporary debates and emerging issues at the heart of  planning practice.

(LO3) On completion of the module, students should be equipped to undertake the activities of a professional planner in relation to the wide range of organisations and interests involved in the planning process.

(LO4) On completion of the module, students should have improved their ability to secure employment and understand the world of work and the application of professional standards.

(LO5) On completion of the module, students should be able to critically examine and develop strategies for dealing with clients and customers of planning services and be able to engage in informed debate about the future direction that spatial planning practice could take.

Times for visiting lecturers may require the times and programme to be varied and any local site visits will require a half or full day attendance at venues to be confirmed. Below is a list of the topics that will covered in the course of this module. Please note that many of these topics will be covered as part of other project work, or in the course of exercises:

Public Involvement in Planning:
The Planner in modern Society – roles, expectations, skills, vision;
Public Consultation and Involvement – practice, techniques;
Pressure Groups and how to work with them.

Players in Planning:
Key Interests/interest groups in planning;
Politicians in planning;
The Business Community and Planning;
Consultants in the Planning System;
The Voluntary Sector and Planning.

Professionalism in Planning:
The Professional Planner;
Ethics and Morality in Planning;
APC/ Continuing Professional Development and the RTP I .

Key Stakeholders in Planning:
Statutory consultees, QUANGOs and other agencies in planning and how they work;
Dealing with Major Developments;
Working Regionally.

Quasi Planning Strategies – the roles of planners:
Community, health, economic, transport, economic development and other related strategies.

Skills in Planning Practice:
Planning Inquiries and the Inspectorate;
Negotiating Tariffs and Agreements;
PR and the Media.

The Workplace:
Managing change and personality/team assessment;
Jobs and Careers in Planning

The module uses a variety of approaches to examine and explore what is means to be a professional planners and the critical skills necessary to embark on a planning career. The teaching is predominatly interactive based around a client based group practice and range of visiting speakers to explore different aspects of planning practice and lectures/seminars to explore the dynamic nature of planning practice, becoming a professional planner and the importance of lifelong learning, and what the ethical codes of professional practice means and whose interest are being served by the advice planners give.