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- Assess sites for development or regeneration and help plan how towns, cities and rural locations are developed
- You'll need excellent observational and communication skills, including negotiation
- Progress into senior roles in project management or become a private consultant
As a planning and development surveyor, your work may involve regenerating run-down estates, redeveloping former industrial ('brownfield') sites, and property conservation in rural and urban areas.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Researching market data, like land and property records
- Analysing figures using computer software
- Assessing whether plans are workable
- Presenting your recommendations to clients
- Overseeing planning applications
- Raising finances from funding bodies, investment companies and development agencies
- Negotiating contracts and tenders
- Advising clients about financial and legal matters, like compulsory purchases
- Working out the likely economic, social and environmental impact of a development
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work at a client's business, in an office or visit sites.
You'll need
For this role, you'll need maths and geography knowledge, thoroughness and attention to detail, analytical thinking skills, customer service, knowledge of engineering science, technology, computer operating systems and hardware and software, and legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations.
You'll usually need a degree or professional qualification approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Relevant subjects include surveying, business studies, economics, estate management, and land and property development.
If your degree is in a different subject, you could take an accredited postgraduate qualification in surveying.
You could do a chartered surveyor degree apprenticeship.
If you have a higher national diploma or foundation degree in surveying or construction, you may be able to work as a surveying technician, and take further training on the job to qualify as a surveyor.
You could get a postgraduate qualification through a graduate trainee scheme with a company or through distance learning with the University College of Estate Management.
You can register with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors to become a chartered surveyor through the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) scheme.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could be promoted to project or senior management roles, go into partnership in private practice, or become self-employed as a consultant. You could also move into other areas of surveying or town planning.