Introduction to planning: Plan and policy making course

A practical one-day CPD course
Imaginary cadastral map of territory with buildings, roads and land parcel - land registry concept illustration - Note: the map background is totally invented and does not represent any real place - stock illustration

Introduction to planning: Plan and policy making course

A practical one-day CPD course

  • In-person

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&  Date: Tuesday 15 September, 10:00鈥17:00 (including breaks)
(  Delivery: In-person
>  Level: Introductory
[  Certification: Certificate of Completion (CPD)
*  Cost:
This course introduces England鈥檚 plan-led system and outlines the different types of plans, policies and proposals that are prepared. It outlines key features of the plan making process and the nature of the statutory development plan, including its role in decision making. It considers the importance of evidence and active engagement and explains how plans and policy can be shaped and influenced through proactive engagement.

Course aims

The course aims to develop awareness of the broad suite of challenges that planners seek to influence, from the delivery of homes, jobs and infrastructure to environmental protection and strategies for mitigating and adapting environments to the effects of climate change. The course explores the role for plans and strategies, and the policies and proposals that they contain for initiating positive change. Key stages of the plan making process are explored, including the importance of having a sound evidence base to engaging stakeholders. 
The course makes the link between plans and policy and the determination of planning applications via an experience that will be interactive and hands-on, with participants being invited to engage with real-life development sites and policy issues.
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The course has been designed for anyone who engages with planning or is likely to do so in the future. No prior knowledge is assumed, and participants will be invited to share their experiences and associations with planning during the session. The course is ideal for those who have recently started to work in the planning and development sector, and those with aspirations to work in the sector. However, content will also be relevant to broader groups and individuals who want to extend their knowledge and influence of English planning practice.
The course has been designed for in-person delivery, but delegates can join online via Microsoft Teams and engage via a hybrid format if necessary. The in-person delivery will be hosted at the sa国际传媒鈥檚 main city campus.
By completing this short course, learners should be able:
  • To appreciate the principal challenges that planners respond to, and the different spatial scales that English planning operates across.
  • To recognise the importance of plan-making, the variety of plans that are prepared, and the kind of policies and proposals that they can include.
  • To understand the procedural steps for preparing the statutory development plan, including the importance of sourcing evidence and engaging stakeholders. 
  • To gain experience in assessing a potential development site for the purposes of defining development priorities and writing policies and proposals.
The course will be delivered by Nick Smith, a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. 
Nick is a Lecturer in Planning at the sa国际传媒, Programme Leader for MSc Planning, and is leading the design of a new undergraduate programme, BSc (Hons) Environmental Planning and Design. 
Nick has worked in planning for 25 years and has spent time in both planning practice and academia. For more information, please contact: nick.smith@plymouth.ac.uk.

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