Royal Town Planning Institute

Who we are

At the Royal Town Planning Institute (the RTPI), we champion the value of planning in building thriving places and communities. With over 27,000 members worldwide, we support planners at every stage of their career: raising professional standards, shaping planning policy, and proudly awarding chartered status, the highest professional accreditation in UK planning.

For over a century, we have empowered planners to deliver positive impact: creating healthy, inclusive, economically and environmentally sustainable places. As the voice of the profession, we advocate, support, and lead with purpose, professionalism, and passion.

Our culture and values

Our purpose

Empowering planners to deliver positive impact. 

Our vision 

To be the world’s leading professional planning body. Our ambition is to promote healthy, socially inclusive, economically and environmentally sustainable places. 

​Our values 

We are inclusive 

We foster a culture where people feel included, valued and respected; we promote and create spaces where people can thrive. In partnership with our members and stakeholders we constantly seek ways to enhance the planning profession, and through our collective efforts inspire others to join us in creating a more equitable environment for all.   

We are approachable  

We are the bridge between planners, the public, political influencers, and key stakeholders. This requires us to be approachable, friendly and professional. We are engaged, relevant, credible and build relationships based on trust, respect, and transparency. We are effective communicators to all our audiences.  

 We champion  

We champion the planning profession and nurture a community where we share expertise, research, and knowledge. Consistently forward-thinking and always authentic, we inspire, lead, support and protect the profession and all our members globally. We are equally passionate about educating the public and informing debate regarding the important role planners play in our society.   

 We are professional   

We are passionate about supporting planners throughout their careers as a fundamental part of who we are as a membership organisation. We believe that investing in our growth and development is essential to achieving our mission of providing high-quality services that meet the needs of our members and stakeholders. It's crucial for us to stay up to date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices.