The chief executive of a Dublin based housing charity with experience of working in both public and private sector planning, Aidan Culhane will take up the position of RTPI Vice President in January 2027. Read about his career and thoughts on being VP: https://pulse.ly/uk43asssbi

Applications are now open for the 2026 round of RTPI Research Grants. We’re inviting eligible applicants to submit ambitious, high-quality proposals that could unlock fresh insights and practical knowledge for planning academics and practitioners. Learn more: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

Our research (w/Edward Shepherd) on the political economy of land value capture won this year’s @rtpiplanners.bsky.social Patsy Healey Prize for Academic Excellence! Check it out here: housingevidence.ac.uk/project/who-...

Who should own the value of land? Housing, power and the deep politics of land value capture - UK Collaborative Centre For Housing Evidence

housingevidence.ac.uk

Pleased the paper I co-authored with @profjtwhite.bsky.social and Gareth James @uofgussp.bsky.social on placemaking in post-devolution Scotland has been shortlisted for the RTPI Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence. Congrats to all finalists! @uomspal.bsky.social @uomseed.bsky.social

Royal Town Planning Institute@rtpiplanners.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Congratulations to the 16 finalists announced today for the RTPI Awards for Research Excellence 2026! The winners will be announced on 7 September at the UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference. Discover the full list here: www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...

Congratulations to the 16 finalists announced today for the RTPI Awards for Research Excellence 2026! The winners will be announced on 7 September at the UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference. Discover the full list here: www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...

93% of local plans prioritise climate change – but more than a quarter lack a strategic climate policy, according to new research by the RTPI and the @thetcpa.bsky.social Read the findings: www.rtpi.org.uk/climatecrisis

The RTPI has opened an invitation to tender for a research project exploring how citizens’ assemblies can be used within the formal planning process. The project will produce practical guidance for planners working in UK local planning authorities. Read more: www.rtpi.org.uk/about-the-rt...

💡With the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social, @paulcureton.bsky.social and I are launching two practice advice notes - exploring planners’ use of drones, and planning for drone infrastructure - at an event in London on 30 July. ➡️ Find out more and book tickets (free) here: www.rtpi.org.uk/events/plann...

✨Natalie Prosser, CEO @theoep.bsky.social ✨Helen Browning, CEO @thesoilassociation.bsky.social, FFCC Commissioner ✨Roger Mortlock, CEO CPRE ✨Rachel Fisher, CEO @rtpiplanners.bsky.social ✨Baroness Barbara Young, Chair Forestry Commission, FFCC Commissioner (3/6)

💥FFCC’s Chief Executive @suepritch.bsky.social will be speaking at @cprecountryside.bsky.social (CPRE)'s Centenary Conference on 25th June on ‘Land - the taboo topic’. ⏳Tickets running low. Get yours now: www.cpre.org.uk/land-use-con... 📍 UCL East, Stratford 📅 25 June (1/6)

Equip your organisation with fresh talent by hiring a L7 Chartered Town Planner Degree apprentice. It balances academic work with real-time workplace learning. Find out more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/become-a-planner/apprenticeships/how-to-apply/apprenticeship-training-providers/

This World Environment Day, discover how planning can lead the charge in tackling #climatechange. As the UK faces more heatwaves & heavy rains, the RTPI & @thetcpa.bsky.social guide shows how strategic planning supports net zero goals & builds resilient communities. www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

RTPI Chief Executive Rachel Fisher considers the RTPI’s Royal Charter objective, to ‘advance the science and art of planning’. Read Rachel's reflections on her first few weeks at the institute: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

The Art of planning

I am now six weeks into the role, and have had an incredibly warm and kind reception. The team at the RTPI is fantastic – from the staff to the legions of volunteers.

rtpi.org.uk

Calling all planning practitioners, researchers, students & academics: There's only 1 month left to enter the 2026 Awards for Research Excellence, which recognise & promote high-quality spatial planning research from RTPI-accredited planning schools. Enter today: www.rtpi.org.uk/researchawards

The government has announced England’s first Land Use Framework, aiming to better coordinate land for housing, nature recovery, food production and net zero. Read the RTPI's reponse: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

Government Framework gives direction on use of England’s land

The government has announced a new Land Use Framework, aiming to better coordinate land for housing, nature recovery, food production and net zero.

rtpi.org.uk

DID YOU KNOW | The government has announced a minimum of £14m to support local authorities with local plan-making. This funding is in addition to the £29m awarded in January and March 2025. Learn more: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-to-support-local-plan-implementation

Funding to support Local Plan implementation

The government has announced a minimum of £14 million of funding to support local authorities with local plan-making. This new funding will be available to eligible authorities producing plans in both the legacy and new plan making systems.

gov.uk

RTPI's Practitioner Research Fund has granted funding to two innovative projects starting in 2026. Congratulations to Cerys Atchison at CA Town Planning and Daniel James at Plan Research Learn more about their projects: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

The 5th edition of the TCPA & @rtpiplanners.bsky.social climate guide sets out how local authorities can use planning powers to: ✅ cut emissions ✅ strengthen local resilience ✅ protect communities from the impacts of climate change Explore the free topic resources: www.tcpa.org.uk/collection/p...

The Government has announced plans for a major overhaul of England’s planning system through proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). We will be holding roundtables from 12 – 23 January for members in England to guide our response.

The RTPI and @thetcpa.bsky.social have published a new guide to help local authorities consider climate impacts in all planning decisions. The guide is considered the ‘gold standard’ for planning guidance at local level. Read the guide now: www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/pl...

Are you a local authority planning officer, councillor or practitioner interested in how planning can deliver climate action? On 10 December the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social & TCPA will launch the 5th edition of their guidance on planning for climate change. Webinar registration: shorturl.at/Vp97f

RTPI commends the significant funding announced in today’s #budget but urges that long-term investment is key to building capacity. The chancellor has pledged an extra £48m to boost capacity in the planning system. Read reaction from @victoriartpi.bsky.social: www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...

New findings from an RTPI survey of more than 2,500 planners reveal that 20% of respondents in the UK expect to leave the profession within the next three years – with no clear pipeline to replace them. Read the State of the Profession report: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/stateoftheprofession

Simon Creer, RTPI Director of Communications and External Affairs shares his view on planning and AI - a question of humanity? Read more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/planning-and-ai-a-question-of-humanity/

We officially launched 'It takes planners & you' last week with a special projection in Gateshead. Now we want everyone in planning to share their own reflections, stories, & local successes that show how collaboration creates change: www.rtpi.org.uk/about-the-rt... #PlannersAndYou

"My role has had me engaging with members across Scotland, seeking their thoughts on how the profession should respond to planning policy." Joseph Ashmore reflects on his experience as Intern Project Officer:https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/reflections-from-an-rtpi-scotland-intern/

Reflections from an RTPI Scotland intern | Championing the power of planning

As my time at RTPI Scotland comes to an end, I want to offer some reflections on my time as Intern Project Officer.

rtpi.org.uk

Does Grand Falls offer lessons for proposed UK new towns? Brian Whiteley, Planning Advisor for Planning Aid England, looks at the Canadian garden city to find out. Read more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/lessons-from-canada-for-uk-new-towns/

Aisling Byrne, RTPI Senior Public Affairs Officer breaks down findings and recommendations for three key Committee reports. Read her blog: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/updates-from-across-parliament/

Updates from across Parliament | Championing the power of planning

In typical Parliamentary fashion, the run-up to the end of this year is a flurry of report publications, consultations and announcements

rtpi.org.uk

Join the RTPI's #WorldTownPlanningDay 2025 online programme, which brings together case studies from the UK and around the world, fostering the exchange of ideas globally. 👉Register for the free webinars at: www.rtpi.org.uk/wtpd This year's theme is 'With Planning We Can'

Learn about planning for rural places in the October edition of Planning Research Matters - a hub showcasing research from RTPI-accredited planning schools. Projects include Rural Exception Sites, commuting from rural places and rural gentrification. Read more: www.rtpi.org.uk/policy-and-r...