Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Consultant

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Consultant advises public agencies, developers and non‑profits on planning, design and policy to create resilient, efficient and inclusive urban places. This role combines technical planning analysis (land‑use modelling, transport and environmental assessment), stakeholder facilitation, strategic policy advice and project delivery to guide decisions on urban regeneration, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, public realm improvements and sustainable infrastructure. The Urban Consultant translates technical data into clear recommendations, costed options and implementation roadmaps that meet statutory planning requirements and client objectives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate/Junior Urban Planner or Assistant Planner in public or private sector
GIS Analyst, Transport Planner or Environmental Consultant transitioning into multidisciplinary planning
Urban Designer or Architect moving into policy and strategic consultancy

Advancement To:

Senior Urban Consultant / Lead Planner
Principal Consultant — Urban Development or Transport Strategy
Project Director / Head of Urban Practice

Lateral Moves:

Urban Designer or Placemaking Lead
Transport Planning Specialist
Policy Advisor or Public Sector Planning Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead multidisciplinary urban planning studies from inception to delivery, producing clear technical reports, design proposals, and policy recommendations that align with statutory planning frameworks and local government objectives.
Prepare and manage feasibility studies and due diligence for redevelopment, brownfield regeneration and mixed‑use projects, assessing land‑use potential, planning constraints, viability and implementation pathways.
Conduct detailed site appraisals, carrying out constraints/opportunities analysis and synthesizing urban design, heritage, ecology and flood risk considerations into integrated development advice.
Develop and apply transport and mobility strategies, including mode shift analysis, transit-oriented development (TOD) planning, traffic impact assessments, and microsimulation or strategic modelling as required.
Use GIS and spatial analysis to map demographic trends, land‑use patterns, accessibility and service coverage, producing evidence-based maps and spatial models to support masterplans and planning applications.
Lead stakeholder engagement programs including public consultations, workshops, design charrettes and statutory consultee negotiations to build consensus and revise proposals in response to community and agency feedback.
Draft planning applications, development briefs, design codes and planning statements, ensuring compliance with local plan policies, national planning guidance and environmental regulations.
Prepare Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) inputs for urban projects, coordinating ecology, noise, air quality, and heritage specialists to produce comprehensive assessments and management plans.
Provide development viability and funding advice, assessing infrastructure requirements, developer contributions, land assembly strategies and public‑private partnership (PPP) options.
Advise on affordable housing delivery, inclusionary planning mechanisms, tenure mix and delivery models to meet local housing policy and social infrastructure needs.
Produce strategic urban design frameworks and masterplans that articulate public realm, movement networks, density distribution and phasing strategies to achieve quality placemaking outcomes.
Develop policy briefs and strategic advice for local authorities and clients on housing targets, land supply, growth strategies, and statutory plan preparation.
Manage project budgets, client relationships and delivery schedules, coordinating teams of planners, designers, economists and technical consultants to meet milestones and quality standards.
Lead procurement and tendering for specialist studies, consultant teams and technical services, defining scopes of work, evaluation criteria and contract management processes.
Present technical findings and recommended options to elected officials, planning committees, client boards and community groups using persuasive visualisations and evidence-based narratives.
Deliver climate resilience and sustainability assessments, advising on low‑carbon infrastructure, green infrastructure strategies, nature-based solutions and urban heat mitigation measures.
Undertake statutory consultee liaison and pre-application meetings with planning authorities, utilities and transport agencies to de-risk proposals and streamline approval pathways.
Coordinate site masterplanning with infrastructure providers (water, sewage, energy, communications) to ensure delivery sequencing, capacity provision and cost allocation are addressed.
Conduct socio-economic impact assessments to quantify job creation, economic benefit, displacement risks and social outcomes from proposed urban projects.
Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks for implemented projects, defining success metrics, data collection plans and adaptive management recommendations to inform future interventions.
Produce high-quality visual materials (maps, diagrams, 3D sketches, feasibility graphics) and technical appendices to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Mentor junior planners and consultants, providing technical oversight, quality assurance and professional development to build team capability and client confidence.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc spatial data requests and conduct exploratory GIS analysis to inform early-stage concept work and options appraisal.
Contribute to practice development by preparing proposal documentation, thought leadership articles and client-facing case studies that highlight urban consultancy expertise.
Assist in the development of bids and tender responses, providing technical inputs, project programmes and resource estimates to secure new work.
Participate actively in project governance, risk registers and progress reporting to maintain transparency and ensure contractual compliance.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of planning legislation, funding mechanisms, grants and national policy changes and apply insights to client advice and project risk assessment.
Coordinate with communications teams to craft stakeholder briefings, public notices and digital engagement content to support consultation phases.
Support data collection programs, including on‑street surveys, intercept surveys, origin/destination studies and community questionnaires to underpin evidence bases.
Contribute to internal training sessions on transport modelling, GIS best practice, planning policy updates and sustainability standards.
Facilitate interdepartmental coordination across design, transport, housing, environment and economic development teams to ensure integrated delivery.
Provide back-up support on regulatory compliance documentation and planning conditions discharge processes post-approval.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced proficiency in GIS (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) for spatial analysis, accessibility modelling and map production.
Experience with transport modelling tools (VISSIM, VISUM, SATURN, or similar) and multi-modal mobility analysis.
Strong urban design and masterplanning skills, with the ability to prepare design frameworks, block plans and public realm strategies.
Knowledge of planning policy and statutory process including Local Plans, National Planning Policy Framework (or applicable national guidance) and planning application submission requirements.
Competence in preparing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) inputs and coordinating multi-disciplinary environmental studies.
Financial appraisal and viability analysis skills, including understanding developer contributions, CIL, S106, and basic pro forma modelling.
Proficiency with design and visualisation tools such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite or Rhino for concept presentation materials.
Data analysis skills using Excel, Python, R, or similar tools for scenario testing, demographic projections and sensitivity analysis.
Experience producing feasibility reports, planning statements, design codes and legal/contractual briefing documents.
Familiarity with housing policy, affordable housing delivery mechanisms and social infrastructure planning.
Project management skills including programme development, budgeting, resource allocation and contract management.
Public consultation and facilitation techniques, including workshop design and consensus-building methods.

Soft Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, able to translate technical analysis into concise, persuasive advice for clients and decision-makers.
Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation abilities, skilled at building trust with community groups, clients and statutory consultees.
Strategic thinking with the ability to synthesise complex inputs into clear, implementable options and long-term visions.
Client-focused mindset with commercial awareness and the ability to manage expectations, scope and deliverables.
Excellent presentation skills and confidence presenting to senior stakeholders, councils and planning committees.
Problem-solving orientation and adaptability in dynamic project environments with competing priorities.
Leadership and mentoring capability to develop junior team members and coordinate multi-disciplinary project teams.
Attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality technical documentation and visuals.
Time management and organisational skills to deliver multiple projects to tight deadlines.
Cultural sensitivity and inclusive engagement practices when working with diverse communities and stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Geography, Architecture, Civil Engineering or related discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree or postgraduate qualification in Urban Planning, Transport Planning, Urban Design, Regional Planning, Environmental Planning or sustainable development fields.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban and Regional Planning
Urban Design
Transportation Planning
Geography / GIS
Architecture
Environmental Science / Sustainability

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3 — 8 years of professional experience in urban planning, transport planning, urban design or consultancy roles.

Preferred: 5+ years in urban consultancy or public sector planning with demonstrable experience leading multi‑disciplinary projects, preparing planning applications or masterplans, and conducting stakeholder engagement for complex urban development projects.