Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Town planning assistant standard?
Knowledge
K1: 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
K2: 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.
K3: Data collection: Where to find current and historical data on single sites and wider areas for development.
K4: 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.
K5: 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.
K6: Conditions, appeals and enforcement: The features of monitoring compliance of authorised and unauthorised developments and support the processing of planning appeals.
K7: 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
K8: 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.
K9: Health and Safety: Responsibilities under health and safety legislation on safe working practices
K10: Size and scale: How to assess the size and scale of developments and structures in relation to planning policy and impact on adjacent developments
K11: Report writing: How to select and present information about policy constraints, site research and baseline analysis
K12: Project Management: The requirements for projects, including timescales, deadlines, cost implications, and identifying milestones/targets
Skills
S1: Data analysis: Research, collate and compare data relating to development proposals, applications and other planning considerations
S2: Policy analysis: Apply legislation, local and national policy and regulations to projects and casework
S3: Site analysis: Take and edit site photographs correctly, and take site visit notes accurately
S4: Report writing: Write reports and summaries and prepare initial documentation for planning proposals and policy representations
S5: 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.
S6: Casework: Process own casework of projects including checking planning documentation for completeness and taking action in response to missing documentation
S7: Data monitoring: Consult, create and where necessary maintain records on relevant planning registers
S8: Mapping: Create accurate drawings, maps and digital illustrations. Interpret drawings and maps, and use appropriate mapping tools
S9: Presentation – internal: Discuss and present planning information, documentation and findings to colleagues
S10: Presentation – external: Prepare and deliver presentations to external audiences e.g. members of the public or other community or professional stakeholders
S11: Administration: Provide administrative support to line managers and peers. Keep an accurate record of meetings. Use appropriate case management systems.
Behaviours
B1: Take care for their own health and safety
B2: 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.
B3: Commitment to their own Continuing Professional Development
B4: Work effectively both on their own and as part of a team
B5: Demonstrate time management skills, prioritise workload, work under pressure and be able to meet critical deadlines
Duty 1
DUTY: Research and compile site history including any land use policy restrictions and constraints
K1
K3
K4
K5
S1
S2
S4
S7
S9
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 2
DUTY: Undertake initial site analysis through site visits, taking site photographs, analysis of maps
K8
K9
S2
S3
S8
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 3
DUTY: Measure proposals for development, as represented on a site plan or in elevation, to understand the size and scale of the proposed buildings and structures
K8
K10
S2
S8
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 4
DUTY: Summarise policy constraints, site research and baseline analysis with regards to planning applications or proposal for developments and present the information clearly and concisely in written and verbal format to Chartered Town Planners
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K11
S1
S2
S4
S6
S9
S11
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 5
DUTY: Review environmental and other specialist designations and reports to provide a preliminary assessment of the environmental and physical impact of planning applications and/or development proposals.
K4
K5
S2
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 6
DUTY: Monitor and check proposals for development, planning applications and/or completed proposals for compliance against relevant local, strategic and national planning requirements including statutory obligations and conditions. Commence Enforcement investigations under the supervision of a Chartered Town Planner.
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K6
K7
K10
S1
S2
S11
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 7
DUTY: Apply relevant legislation and national and locally adopted policy when working on planning projects and casework.
K1
K2
K4
K6
K11
S1
S2
S4
S6
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 8
DUTY: Provide clear and relevant advice to members of the public, councillors, agents and/or clients on planning issues, face to face, by phone and by email and other communications.
K1
K2
K3
K4
K6
K7
S1
S5
S10
S11
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 9
DUTY: Manage a caseload of straight-forward planning applications and representations to development plans under supervision.
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K7
K10
K11
K12
S1
S2
S4
S6
S7
S9
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 10
DUTY: Assist Chartered Town Planners with consultation and/or community engagement on planning applications and/or strategic or local plans including taking part in technical discussions on proposals for development with members of the public and/or councillors and justifying the stance you take.
K7
K9
S5
S10
S11
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 11
DUTY: Attend and speak at planning meetings, in an office environment and on site, and keep an accurate record of meetings
K1
K2
K4
K7
K9
S3
S5
S9
S10
S11
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 12
DUTY: Support Chartered Town Planners to deliver projects including following a project plan and ensuring key timescales are met.
K12
S1
S2
S6
S9
S11
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 13
DUTY: Describe and code plans, planning documents, and supporting material accurately within a relevant workplace document filing system or casework management system
K2
K6
S6
S7
S11
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 14
DUTY: Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, knowing who to consult and seeking advice from other disciplines where relevant
K2
K3
K4
K5
K7
K9
K10
K11
K12
S1
S2
S5
S6
S9
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 15
DUTY: Prepare documentation including graphical representations, maps and site plans and present to clients and/or local authority committee under supervision.
K8
S4
S5
S8
S10
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
Duty 16
DUTY: Assist Chartered Town Planners with planning appeals, collating casework materials and supporting documentation and responding to written evidence and other planning information presented by the opposing side.
