Urban and Regional Planner

OFO No: 216401

Other names for Urban or Regional Planner:

• Community / Country / District Planner
• Environmental Consent Planner
• Environmental Policy Planner
• Geothermal Resource Officer
• Land Development Planner
• Land Planner
• Land Use Planner
• Natural Resource Management Consultant / Officer / Town Planner
• Traffic and Transport Planner

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – All about Urban & Regional Planning

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is a Urban or Regional Planner?

With the population increasing and the need for people to live closer to the city; urban areas are growing rapidly all around the world. In order to handle the influx of people, there is an increasing need for good, reliable infrastructure and new developments that can handle and sustain future generations.

Urban planners work with architects to design cities according to national budgets. They plan where developers can build high-rises, apartment blocks, where communal parks go, highways, industrial areas and where pipes and electricity run etc. 

As a ‘green’ Urban Designer, you have the ability to design and re-invent cities so that they work with the natural environment and not against it. You can also encourage the use of ‘green’ materials for building processes.

What does a Urban or Regional Planner do?

• discusses new ideas, plans and future developments with government officials
• compiles, codes, categorises, calculates, tabulates, audits, or verifies information or data
• designs and promotes government plans and policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing and transportation.
• formulates and develops community plans
• assesses the feasibility studies of proposals
• puts together graphic and written reports on land use data
• analyses information and evaluates results to choose the best solution and solve problems

Are you . . . ?

• interested in urban and/or town planning?
• interested in going ‘green’ with regard to your designs?
• a good communicator?
• good at listening to other people’s opinions?
• a critical thinker?
• decisive?
• creative?
• a problem solver?
• good at time management?
• good at speaking?

How do I become an Urban or Regional Planner?

PATH 1

National Diploma in Town & Regional Planning
Bachelor of Technology in Town & Regional Planning

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• Durban University of Technology
• University of Johannesburg

PATH 2

Bachelor of Town & Regional Planning Degree

or

Bachelor of Science in Urban & Regional Planning / Town & Regional Planning

• University of Pretoria
• University of Witwatersrand

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Architect or Geotechnologist

Is becoming an Urban or Regional Planner the right choice for me?