Royal Town Planning Institute RTPI
The term ‘town planning’ was first used in the UK in 1906, and in 1909, the Housing, Town Planning, etc Act first empowered local authorities to prepare development schemes for land. In 1910, Thomas Adams was appointed the first Town Planning Inspector and in 1913 an invitation was sent out to interested practitioners to join a Town Planning Institute, chaired by Adams.
The purpose of the institute was described as:
- To advance the study of town-planning, civic design and kindred subjects, and of the arts and sciences as applied to those subjects;
- To promote the artistic and scientific development of towns and cities;
- To secure the association, and to promote the general interests of those engaged or interested in the practice of town-planning.
Adams was elected first President of the institute in 1914. In 1971, the Town Planning Institute was granted royal charter and became the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
The RTPI is now the largest planning institute in Europe with over 23,000 members. It is based at 41 Botolph Lane in London and has regional offices throughout the UK. It is a charitable, membership organisation responsible for maintaining professional standards, accrediting planning courses and advancing the science and art of planning for the benefit of the public. The RTPI is governed by a board of trustees responsible for the management its affairs and 'promoting its objects'.
- Associate members.
- Technical members.
- Chartered members.
- Licentiates.
- Student members.
- Legal associates.
- Affiliates.
Planning is not a protected profession, however, Chartered planning consultants must have a degree in planning and/or a number of years experience in spatial planning. They must comply with an independent Code of Professional Conduct, hold professional indemnity insurance and undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout their career to ensure their knowledge remains up to date.
The RTPI maintains a searchable database to help clients find planning consultants. For more information about the planning profession, see: Planning consultant.
The RTPI also operates also Planning Aid England, which offers free planning advice to communities and individuals.
The RTPI Trust is a registered charity which provides support to RTPI members and their families who are in financial hardship.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Delivering the value of planning.
- Killian Pretty Review.
- New towns.
- Penfold Review.
- Planning consultant.
- Planning permission.
- Professional indemnity insurance.
- Taylor review.
- Town.
- Town and Country Planning Association.
- Town planning.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.