Apprenticeship training course

Town planning assistant (level 4)

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Information about Town planning assistant (level 4)

Work with, and provide technical and administrative support to chartered town planners.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Legislation and Policy: The features of current town planning regulations, policy and guidance. Appreciation of the implications of case law for planning applications and statutory plan making
  • Planning Process: Forms of development management and development plans that happen in planning and their supporting administrative processes. How to respond to requests for technical information about proposals and planning issues.
  • Data collection: Where to find current and historical data on single sites and wider areas for development.
  • Environmental procedures and sustainability: The features of environmental and ecological designations and processes relevant to the planning system. Where to find information identifying potential flood risk for developments and matters such as energy and climate change.
  • Conservation and design: The features of the natural and historic environment that can be affected by developments and how they can and should be protected by the planning system. The features of technical constraints related to design.
  • Conditions, appeals and enforcement: The features of monitoring compliance of authorised and unauthorised developments and support the processing of planning appeals.
  • Stakeholder engagement: The wider decision making and political context in which planners work. Including the types and sizes of organisations working in planning, statutory authorities and other consultees, including the local community
  • Mapping and graphics: Map preparation and analysis including taking measurements from maps. Methods and techniques for creating and explaining graphical representations including specialist graphic tools and mapping technologies as appropriate, and taking site photographs.
  • Health and Safety: Responsibilities under health and safety legislation on safe working practices
  • Size and scale: How to assess the size and scale of developments and structures in relation to planning policy and impact on adjacent developments
  • Report writing: How to select and present information about policy constraints, site research and baseline analysis
  • Project Management: The requirements for projects, including timescales, deadlines, cost implications, and identifying milestones/targets

  Skills

  • Data analysis: Research, collate and compare data relating to development proposals, applications and other planning considerations
  • Policy analysis: Apply legislation, local and national policy and regulations to projects and casework
  • Site analysis: Take and edit site photographs correctly, and take site visit notes accurately
  • Report writing: Write reports and summaries and prepare initial documentation for planning proposals and policy representations
  • Communication: Communicate effectively with members of the public, clients and other stakeholders. Respond to queries in writing and verbally. Use community engagement techniques to encourage participation in the planning system.
  • Casework: Process own casework of projects including checking planning documentation for completeness and taking action in response to missing documentation
  • Data monitoring: Consult, create and where necessary maintain records on relevant planning registers
  • Mapping: Create accurate drawings, maps and digital illustrations. Interpret drawings and maps, and use appropriate mapping tools
  • Presentation – internal: Discuss and present planning information, documentation and findings to colleagues
  • Presentation – external: Prepare and deliver presentations to external audiences e.g. members of the public or other community or professional stakeholders
  • Administration: Provide administrative support to line managers and peers. Keep an accurate record of meetings. Use appropriate case management systems.

  Behaviours

  • Take care for their own health and safety
  • Reliability, integrity and respect for confidentiality on work related and personal matters, including appropriate use of social media and information systems. Follows their employers Code of Conduct.
  • Commitment to their own Continuing Professional Development
  • Work effectively both on their own and as part of a team
  • Demonstrate time management skills, prioritise workload, work under pressure and be able to meet critical deadlines
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Construction and the built environment
• Qualification level: 4; Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
• Course duration: 24 months
• Maximum funding: £12,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Town Planning Assistant
  • Town Planning Technician
  • Planning Assistant
  • Planning Technician
  • Enforcement Assistant
  • Assistant Town Planner
  • Technical Support Officer
  • Planning Support Officer

View more information about Town planning assistant (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.