The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has reported a 40% rise in Gateway applications from Chartered Town Planner apprentices who have completed an RTPI-accredited degree and relevant professional experience.
The continued momentum follows a 66% year-on-year rise in the number of apprentices reaching End-Point Assessment in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.
The Institute has reiterated serious concerns about the Government’s decision to restrict funding for Level 7 (L7) Chartered Town Planner apprenticeships to those aged 16–21 from 2026.
Many university partners also report that 100% of their L7 apprentices since 2019 have been over the age of 21 on entry. RTPI analysis suggests the change would remove around 200 planners each year from the pipeline – around 70% of whom historically have worked in local government – representing £1.7 million per year in lost investment, or nearly £6 million over the remainder of this Parliament.
The impact is already being felt, with one Planning School confirming it will withdraw from offering the L7 from 2026 and another pausing recruitment to its undergraduate-entry apprenticeship.
The Institute is maintaining continual dialogue with the Government to resolve this major issue. In its letter to the Housing Minister, the RTPI has called for £6.8 million in capital investment over the remainder of this Parliament to support Planning Schools in recruiting and training 400 planners while an alternative programme is developed.
Simon Creer, Director of Communications and External Affairs at the RTPI, said: “This apprenticeship was designed to provide an alternative route into an under-resourced profession and has delivered a strong pipeline of talent for employers. Today’s figures show that it is working, with more apprentices reaching Gateway and 226 apprentices achieving Chartered status. Cutting off funding for the vast majority of candidates at the point the programme is accelerating will be counterproductive to the Government’s growth strategy.”
“Given the severe resourcing issues in local authority planning departments, capacity must be strengthened if the Government is to meet its economic growth agenda and housing delivery targets.”
