Planning involves twin activities - the management of the competing uses for space, and the making of places that are valued and have identity.  These activities  focus on the location and quality of social, economic and environmental change. In setting out its vision for planning, RTPI uses the term spatial planning to encompass these.

Spatial planning operates at all the different possible scales of activity, from large-scale national or regional strategies to the more localised design and organisation of towns, villages and neighbourhoods.  It affects everyone, making policies setting out visions for places and decisions about matters ranging from the location of major new transport or energy facilities and employment development, through to the development of new shops, schools, dwellings or parks needed by local communities.  It considers the things that we value and supports our ongoing use of the environment to maintain or enhance these; from the integrity of the atmosphere to limit climate change, to the provision of habitat for individual species; from the identification of global cultural heritage to locally valued townscapes.  It maintains the best of the past, whilst encouraging innovation in the design and development of future buildings and neighbourhoods to meet our future needs. 

• Find out more about what spatial planning does, who spatial planners are and how to become one.
• Find out who is responsible for running the planning system where you live.

The RTPI has a unique Vision for Planning

We believe that planning should be spatial, sustainable, integrative, inclusive, value-driven and action-oriented.

• Click on the eye to learn more about our Vision.
• How does RTPI help spatial planners and communities to deliver this vision?

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Partners, Projects and Programmes

The RTPI works ever more closely with a diverse range of partners to deliver projects and programmes that implement its vision.