PSPLANNER

@alonso wrote:

The larger private sector companies are more varied, especially at the lower levels. It’s the difference between writing EIS’s or an appeal for a major retail/residential scheme or driving around checking site notices and assessing extensions… There is a moral dimension to it too. All that matters is the client. However, I’m not 100% concerned about that. At the end of the day, the Authorities make development plans and are the guardians of the built environment. Planners merely give effect to those plans. What needs to happen in my opinion is the RPS’ and TPA’s of this world need to show leadership to their clients and show them that doing the right thing is better in the long term for the development industry, their clients ie homeowners, and the environment in general.

Regarding your comments re private practices and particularly big ones – your comment shows a clear lack of experience and a common misinterpretation of private sector planning complies and what it is like to work for them.

As a planner who has worked in both domains I can assure you that what you suggest for TPA and RPS already happens with most if not all planning consultants. The aim of Private sector planner is to obtain planning permission for their client for a planned scheme. In this regard, the private sector planner is also governed by the Development Plan and must advise the client accordingly. Yes there are Clients who act against advice and lodge silly applications but this is the reason why private sector planning consultants are generally not always successful. Also who do you think proposes and strongly encourages the client to give planning gain?

Re the moral dimension – All I can say is that the best place to learn for me was in the private sector. By necessity you need to be more inventive in your thought process. Your writing skills are tested more rigorously and you generally have to have a wider experience to advance. Basically you learn quicker, are exposed to a much wider variety of planning work and thus advance quicker as a planner. It is very interesting to note that the number of Senior Planners who leave public office and venture out on their own!