in Urban Planning and Development

Urban planning and development is the discipline concerned with shaping the places in which people live, work, travel, and spend their time. It addresses the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of how cities and regions develop, asking not just what gets built where but how land use decisions are made, how communities are consulted and engaged, how infrastructure is planned and delivered, and how planning systems can support or hinder justice, sustainability, and wellbeing. It is a discipline with direct and tangible consequences: planners are among the people who determine what our towns and cities will look like and feel like for generations to come.

At Cardiff this three-year full-time programme is accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, meaning it provides a dual professional pathway and meets the standards of two of the most important bodies in the built environment sector. You will study the social, economic, and environmental challenges of creating better places, developing knowledge of planning law and policy, development economics, environmental assessment, design and place-making, and community engagement. Cardiff's location in a capital city that has undergone substantial regeneration provides a living case study in urban development, and Wales's distinctive planning system offers a valuable comparative dimension alongside the UK context.

Graduates of urban planning and development programmes are well positioned for careers in local authority planning departments, private sector development consultancies, housing associations, infrastructure providers, central government, and regeneration bodies. The dual RTPI and RICS accreditation provides a direct route to chartered status in both professions, which is a significant asset in the built environment sector. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in planning, urban design, real estate, or sustainability, while others move into policy roles in government or the voluntary sector focused on housing, environment, and community development.