My First Month as a Planning Assistant: Insights from an Architecture Graduate

My first month working as a part-time planning assistant at EP inducted me into the on-the-ground working of the planning system in this country and the processes and considerations that go into different kinds of planning applications. The knowledge transfer sessions carried out by different members of the team also added to my learning experience during my first month.  It’s been fascinating to see how it differs from the planning system in India, where I completed my undergraduate degree in architecture.

One thing that stands out to me is the level of community engagement in the UK planning process. It has been interesting to hear accounts of public consultations carried out for different projects from colleagues. Another difference is the level of detail required in planning applications. As an architecture graduate, I find it particularly interesting that apart from the technical drawings and design proposals there are several other assessment reports that need to be submitted along with a planning application. I have been able to use my skills to prepare drawings, imagery, and graphics to support planning applications as well as help to communicate the design vision to stakeholders.

So far, no two days in the office have been the same. I am getting to work on different parts of different projects, from carrying out research to preparing drawings. I have started working on an exciting project for a city council, which involves over 15 different sites. I am eager to see how the project progresses and to learn more about the planning process in the context of local government. I am enthusiastic about enhancing my skills further and contributing to the expertise of the highly professional and efficient team at EP.