City Planning Assistant - Year in Industry

Work at the cutting edge between development and transport and shape life in London.

How long: 1 year 

Where: London (there may be some hybrid working involved depending on the placement) 

Salary: £21, 824 (in line with London living wage) 

What you'll need 

You'll be working towards a minimum of a 2:2 degree in geography, urban planning or other relevant discipline.  

By September 2023 you'll need to:

  • Have completed at least two years of university 
  • Be 18-years-old 

What you'll be doing

TfL City Planning has a key role in shaping what life is like in London. We help to realise the Mayor's Transport Strategy's target of all trips in London to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041. To make this a reality, we prioritise health and the quality of people's experience in everything we do.  

You'll be working at the cutting edge between development and transport. You'll make a valuable contribution to exciting and innovative proposals in London, helping you develop an improved understanding of the planning process. 

We expect opportunities to become a City Planning Assistant at TfL to be available in several teams, including: 

Development Management  

  • Help ensure that development delivers the Mayor's planning agenda, including Healthy Streets, Vision Zero and Good Growth  
  • Safeguard and promote London's transport operations and infrastructure 
  • Identify and resolve transport issues and seek to deliver opportunities for new and improved transport arising from development   
  • Help assess local planning policies and work closely with other parts of TfL, the GLA, local authorities, developers and other key stakeholders 

Town Planning Consents  

  • Work in our internal consultancy service 
  • Gain a variety of town planning consents experience helping to improve London's transport services including the Underground, bus and river services and cycling infrastructure 
  • Provide planning input into major projects designed to support London's growth, such as new rail lines 

London Plan and Planning Obligations 

  • Help shape policy at the city region scale and ensure developer contributions are used for critical transport infrastructure 
  • Analyse income from the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy, commenting on planning applications and responding to local plan consultations to ensure they align with the London Plan 
  • Work closely with a broad range of stakeholders within TfL, and elsewhere including the GLA, local authorities and developers 

Where this career can take you 

You'll have the chance to apply your studies and theory in practice and to understand the challenges involved in planning and development. You'll get an interesting and varied workload where you'll make a tangible difference to London.  

This role does not lead into a graduate scheme at TfL. 

Meet our Alumni

Previous Assistant Planners at TfL share their experiences: 

"The placement has developed my skills enormously and allowed me to work with such a great set of people who are so skilled in the planning profession. I was made to feel so welcomed and I felt like a valued member of the team. I have had the chance to work on some fantastic projects with some great people. I am excited to go back to university and put my new knowledge to the test.'' 

"Having great people around at work matters! At TfL, I got to work alongside the best teammates and forged friendships with many of them. As a result, the time I spent at TfL has also been a wonderful personal experience that I cherish deeply to date. If you're lucky enough to be offered a placement at TfL, don't hesitate, just go for it!''