Writing a powerful Town and Urban Planning CV is about far more than listing qualifications and job titles. After more than twenty five years as a UK based career coach, I can assure you that the most successful planning professionals present themselves as strategic thinkers, community focused leaders and commercially aware decision makers. Your CV must communicate your value clearly, confidently and professionally.
Start with a strong professional profile. This is your opportunity to position yourself as a skilled Town Planner, Urban Planner or Planning Consultant with expertise in development management, spatial planning, regeneration projects and sustainable development. Keep this section concise yet impactful. Mention your years of experience, your specialism such as transport planning or environmental planning, and the scale of projects you have delivered. Recruiters searching for Town and Urban Planning CV examples are looking for candidates who understand planning policy, stakeholder engagement and local authority processes. Make sure these keywords appear naturally within your opening paragraph.
Your key skills section should reflect both technical planning knowledge and core professional competencies. Include areas such as planning applications, planning appeals, site appraisals, community consultation, land use planning, policy analysis and project management. Demonstrate your familiarity with UK planning frameworks, local development plans and environmental impact assessments. Employers within local government, property development and planning consultancy firms want evidence that you can balance regulatory compliance with commercial awareness.
When detailing your professional experience, focus on achievements rather than duties. A strong Urban Planning CV does not simply state that you managed planning applications. Instead, explain how you successfully secured consent for a mixed use development ahead of schedule, or how you negotiated with stakeholders to resolve objections and reduce project risk. Quantify results wherever possible. Mention the value of developments, the size of sites in hectares, or the percentage reduction in planning determination times you helped achieve. This approach transforms your CV from a generic document into a compelling case study of your expertise.
For those working within local authorities, highlight your understanding of public sector governance, committee reporting and policy development. If you are in private practice, emphasise client relationship management, business development support and fee income generation. A well written Town and Urban Planning CV template should always be tailored to reflect whether you are targeting roles in the public or private sector.
Education and professional development are particularly important in planning. Clearly list your degree in Town Planning, Urban Design, Geography or a related discipline. If you are a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, include your membership status. Continuing professional development, specialist training in sustainability, urban regeneration or transport assessment should also feature prominently. Employers value planners who remain current with legislation and evolving best practice.
Technology is increasingly central to urban planning careers. Demonstrate competence with GIS software, data analysis tools and digital mapping platforms. If you have experience using AutoCAD, ArcGIS or planning portals, ensure these keywords are included. Many recruiters now use applicant tracking systems, so incorporating relevant planning software and technical skills improves your visibility in search results for Town and Urban Planning CV searches.
Structure and presentation matter enormously. Your CV should be clear, logically organised and easy to read. Use consistent formatting, professional language and concise sentences. Avoid jargon that may not be understood outside your immediate planning team. Remember that your CV may first be read by a recruitment consultant before it reaches a Head of Planning or Development Director. Clarity wins interviews.
Tailoring is the final and often overlooked secret. Every planning role is different. Some focus on development control, others on policy planning or regeneration strategy. Study the job description carefully and mirror the language used by the employer. If the role emphasises stakeholder engagement and community consultation, ensure these themes are prominent in your CV. If the employer prioritises commercial development experience, highlight your track record in delivering residential or mixed use schemes.
A truly effective Town and Urban Planning CV example communicates professionalism, confidence and ambition. It shows that you understand the built environment not only as a technical discipline but as a vehicle for social impact, economic growth and environmental sustainability. Planning is about shaping places and improving lives. Let your CV reflect that sense of purpose.
Finally, do not underestimate the importance of your LinkedIn profile. Recruiters within planning and property sectors regularly search LinkedIn for passive candidates. Your online profile should align with your CV, reinforce your personal brand and showcase project highlights. A consistent professional presence across both platforms significantly increases interview opportunities.
If you are serious about advancing your career in Town and Urban Planning, I would be delighted to help. At CVLondon, we specialise in crafting high impact planning CVs and optimising LinkedIn profiles to attract leading UK employers. Book a personal consultation with me, Jerry Frempong, or one of our expert CV writers today and take the next confident step in your career journey.
Secure your future in planning and book your appointment here https://www.cvlondon.net/book-an-appointment/
Town and Urban Planning CV Sample
