When I became the President of the RTPI, I was driven by a clear purpose: to reshape how the planning profession is understood and valued by the public. Too often, our profession is misunderstood, undervalued, or misrepresented. My mission is to make planners more visible, relatable, respected and valued, to showcase who we are and why what we do matters.
Planning has a perception problem. It shows up in local and national debates, from local council meetings to local Facebook groups. We have all seen the stereotypes, planners as ‘blockers’ or “Planning is top-down and out of touch with lived experience”. We know this isn’t true but the narratives persists.
A recent survey from our member magazine, The Planner, highlighted just this issue. It found that fewer than 14% of RTPI members believe the public understands the purpose of planning. Even more worryingly, 96% say online platforms contribute to misinformation about planning, a steep rise from 86% just a year ago.
We need to reclaim the narrative. Planning is not just a technical or bureaucratic exercise, it is a collaborative, creative profession that shapes the environments in which people live, work, travel, and connect. It is about building communities, not just managing development, creating places for communities to thrive.
That is why I am proud today to announce that we have commenced our search for collaborators on what is likely to be the RTPI’s largest ever public awareness campaign. At the heart of this campaign is a simple message: Planning is a force for good, and planners are motivated by a genuine commitment to building better places for everyone
While the coming months will be spent searching through and meeting with agencies to help craft the campaign, I am also on the search for real-life case studies that demonstrate what planning can achieve. Whether it is unlocking affordable housing, revitalising a town centre, protecting a heritage asset, or creating green spaces that bring people together, we want to hear your stories.
As I travel across the UK during my Presidential visits, I will be seeking out case studies that best demonstrate the important work of planners and the positive impact of planning on everyday lives. These projects will help humanise our profession, demonstrating that planners are passionate, problem-solving individuals with a deep commitment to the public good.
The campaign will launch on World Town Planning Day this November, and I want you to be part of it. Your case study could become a key part that showcases the positive power of planning.
If you have a project that embodies the purpose of planning, I encourage you to submit it. Simply share your work, with names of those involved, images of the project, key outcomes, links to relevant resources, and your contact details to: [email protected].
Together, let’s tell the story of planning as it truly is, dynamic, people-centred, and profoundly impactful .
I look forward to seeing and sharing your inspiring projects and, through them, shaping a stronger, more confident future for our profession.
