RTPI Chief Executive Rachel Fisher considers the RTPI’s Royal Charter objective, to ‘advance the science and art of planning’. Read Rachel's reflections on her first few weeks at the institute: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

Calling all planning practitioners, researchers, students & academics: There's only 1 month left to enter the 2026 Awards for Research Excellence, which recognise & promote high-quality spatial planning research from RTPI-accredited planning schools. Enter today: www.rtpi.org.uk/researchawards

The government has announced England’s first Land Use Framework, aiming to better coordinate land for housing, nature recovery, food production and net zero. Read the RTPI's reponse: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

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

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...

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

"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/

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'

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/

"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...

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."

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/

The RTPI has warned that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which passed its Second Reading on 2 September, could leave rural communities behind. Read more https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/rural-areas-risk-being-left-behind-in-drive-for-devolution/

Great to see Issue 201 of the #ScottishPlanner out this week - it’s a wee festival of planning celebrating this year’s winners in the Awards for Planning Excellence plus all the usual contents, including the latest episode of my Podlicious recommendations… www.rtpi.org.uk/media/21122/...

A survey from the RTPI and YouGov reveals that the UK public has serious doubts about whether the next generation of new towns will meet future needs. These findings echo recommendations in RTPI’s Futureproof New Towns interim report: www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/au...

RTPI warns Housing Minister @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social of major threat to planning profession from level 7 apprenticeship restrictions. Read more about the impact and possible solutions: www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/au...

📣BREAKING NEWS: Professor John Sturzaker FRTPI is joining RTPI as the new Director of Careers and Education in October 2025. Read more: www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/ju...

Thrilled that our strategic planning research has been shortlisted!!

Congratulations all! A fantastic showcase of planning research. It was a pleasure being on the judging panel for the Patsy Healey Award and reading the entries - and tough to narrow them down into a shortlist

I am pleased to share that I have been selected as a finalist for the RTPI Early Career Research Award this year for a chapter of my thesis. Thank you very much to my co-authors!

Congratulations to the 18 finalists announced today for the 2025 RTPI Awards for Research Excellence. Are you on the list? Find out https://www.rtpi.org.uk/events-training-and-awards/awards/rtpi-awards-for-research-excellence/

What are the opportunities & challenges for the Govt's new town's initiative? Hear more at a designated session at the National Planning Conference this autumn. Secure your ticket now: www.rtpi.org.uk/npc

Aisling Byrne has written about how the long-awaited English devolution bill will impact planning: www.rtpi.org.uk/blog/2025/ju...

Today's milestone English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill offers new powers for mayors — but resourcing concerns remain. Read our statement for more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/july/milestone-devolution-bill-offers-new-powers-for-mayors-but-resourcing-concerns-remain/

London Calling: Learn how the ‘good health’ theme has been put into planning practice around the capital city. Chloe Selwood previews the Young Planners' Conference: rtpi.org.uk/blog/2025/july/...

In case you missed it, RTPI Chief Executive Victoria Hills was on Times Radio last week talking about Keir Starmer’s first year in Office, and the impact his Government has had on housing and planning reform. Listen from 8:35 am: https://www.thetimes.com/radio/show/20250704-31820/2025-07-04

📣BREAKING NEWS: @victoriartpi.bsky.social, who has led the RTPI for nearly eight years, is to step down from her post as CEO. She will be moving on to take up the role of CEO at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Read more: www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/ju...

What do the Government's new Infrastructure and industrial strategies mean for planning? Learn from our Policy and Data Analyst Olivia Gibson 👇 www.rtpi.org.uk/blog/2025/ju... #PlanningReform #SpatialPlanning #InfrastructureStrategy

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill had its 2nd reading in the House of Lords last night. "The real reason why planning has been in difficulty is that there have not been enough staff to do the work necessary, and too few chief planning officers with the necessary clout to drive progress & outcomes."

The Govt’s 10 year Infrastructure Strategy outlines a new joined-up approach. However, the RTPI warns that further support is needed. Read more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/june/a-comprehensive-workforce-and-skills-strategy-needed-to-support-the-government-s-10-year-infrastructure-strategy/

"For planners, this means advocating for design literacy, leading the way in asking for more and engaging communities early in the process." Read Katie's reflections on the Suffolk Design Festival: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/blog/2025/june/katie-fowler-reflecting-on-the-suffolk-design-festival/

We re-affirmed our commitment to advancing diversity, equity & inclusion in the built environment by signing a new 5 yr MoU & welcoming additional signatories. Read more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/june/built-environment-professional-bodies-deepen-commitment-to-edi-with-two-new-signatories/