The Royal Town Planning Institute has launched an open invitation to tender for a major public awareness campaign aimed at reshaping public perceptions of the planning profession and the planning system.
The campaign comes in response to recent survey findings by the RTPI and its member magazine, The Planner, which revealed a significant disconnect between planners and public understanding of the planning system.
According to the survey, fewer than 14% of planners believe the public has a clear understanding of what planning is and how it works.
The survey also highlighted widespread concerns among planners that the public holds deep-rooted misconceptions about their roles, the purpose of planning, and the wider system. This lack of understanding, the RTPI warns, is eroding trust in planning decisions and weakening public confidence in the plan-led development model.
The RTPI is seeking a creative partner to lead the campaign and help change this narrative. By making the planning process – and the people behind it – more visible, relatable, and valued, the RTPI hopes to foster greater public engagement and trust.
Helen Fadipe MBE, President of the RTPI, said: “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 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.
“My mission is to make planners more visible, relatable, respected and valued, to showcase who we are and why what we do matters.”
Simon Creer, RTPI Director of Communications and External Affairs, said: “With planning at the top of the political agenda and identified as the Government’s route to growth, it is important that the public understand the positive impact it has on their lives. This year’s RTPI president, Helen Fadipe, has announced a campaign that will be focused on sharing the powerful and human benefits the UK planning systems have.
“We’re excited to be issuing a tender and hope to find a creative agency that can help us get this message across to as many people as possible.”
