Planning is about what can be built where and the influence of social, environmental and economic considerations on physical space. We get involved in property portfolio advice, urban regeneration, sustainable urban extensions, renewable energy technologies, including wind and solar power, as well as retail, marina and leisure development. RTPI planners have particular skills in planning processes and techniques to influence plan making and decisions over whether a development should gain planning permission. They therefore work on spatial issues including socio-environmental matters and urban design, providing specialist knowledge and advice to clients.

Our teams have a highly successful record, working for developers, landowners, funders, local authorities, the Homes and Communities Agency and other bodies including the Home Builders Federation on some of the most exciting building projects currently being undertaken in the UK. We offer a combination of planning, urban design and environmental assessment skills. Savills specialises in realising development, using its commercial awareness and planning skills to ensure that plans become reality. As such we work in an integrated fashion with our colleagues across Savills in departments such as development, licensed leisure and rural.

Savills was one of the first RTPI learning partners, recognising our commitment to ongoing training and professional accreditation. This year we have been shortlisted for the RTPI Learning Partner Awards, to be announced at the end of October. Savills supports RTPI membership as a single professional route to chartered planner status (MRTPI), requiring core competencies in spatial planning and planning processes. The RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) route involves working through professional development with a mentor, a log book and a written report.

Urban design is the collaborative and creative process of designing successful places and spaces. Savills urban design studio helps to design many different types of development in the built environment including urban regeneration, mixed-use schemes and residential projects.

The urban design graduate scheme offers graduates the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills in master planning and place making. Graduates will learn a number of graphics programmes including AutoCAD, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and SketchUp. Work also includes site development and visioning, the creation of design codes and design statements and public engagement. The scheme offers graduates to gain exposure to, build relationships in, and gain an understanding of urban design in the development and property industry.

In addition, the scheme aims to prepare graduates for a qualification in the built environment. Graduates will be assigned a mentor to guide them through their chosen route, whether this be to become a recognised practitioner in urban design or a chartered town planner.

A completed degree in a relevant subject area is required for graduate trainees in urban design. A working knowledge of the subject and experience in programmes such as AutoCAD, is also favoured.