London is an iconic city. With Spatial Planning at the heart of major planning and investment decisions, we are responsible for helping ensure it stays that way. We are looking for people with big ideas and a passion for planning to help shape the future of the Capital.
The role
It is an exciting time to join the Spatial Planning department. We work to shape London’s future proactively by supporting sustainable development in London and ensuring good future public transport provision. We lead on the integration of land use planning and transport to support the Mayor’s objective of ‘Good Growth’. We develop policies through the London Plan, Opportunity Area Planning Frameworks and Local Plans, along with guidance to make sure they are successfully implemented. We identify and make the case for transport infrastructure to support growth and secure funding from new developments. We advise on the design of the urban realm. We contribute to the planning and delivery of successful major developments by realising improvements to, and mitigating the impacts on, the transport system and the environment.
We support the Mayor's Transport Strategy and deliver good growth for London. We do this by helping planning applicants, the rest of TfL, the Greater London Authority (GLA), boroughs, and other stakeholders to combine land use and transport planning.
Sustainability
Sustainability is intrinsic to TfL’s work ethos, and we ensure that we operate in a sustainable way to protect and regenerate the natural world.
You will help support and implement sustainable development through the Mayor’s ‘good growth’ agenda on projects.
What will I be doing?
You will be working at the cutting edge of the relationship between development and transport. You will make a valuable contribution to exciting and innovative proposals in London, which are often of national significance, helping you develop an improved understanding of the planning process.
Opportunities to become a Spatial Planning Assistant at TfL are expected to be available in a number of teams including Development Management and London Plan & Planning Obligations.
In Development Management you will help ensure that development delivers the Mayor’s planning agenda, including Healthy Streets, Vision Zero and Good Growth whilst safeguarding and promoting London’s transport operations and infrastructure. You will identify and resolve transport issues and seek to deliver opportunities for new and improved transport arising from development. You will help assess planning applications by reviewing local planning policies and work closely with other parts of TfL, the GLA, local authorities as well as with developers and other key stakeholders.
The London Plan & Planning Obligations team plays an important role in shaping policy at the city region scale and ensuring developer contributions are used for critical transport infrastructure. Your role within the team will include analysing 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. You will work closely with a broad range of stakeholders within TfL, and elsewhere including the GLA, local authorities and developers.
Where can this career take me?
Students who have completed this programme have secured positions as planning consultants in both the public and private sectors in the UK and abroad. This Year in Industry placement would be relevant to those seeking built-environment careers in:
- Development management
- Property development
- Transport planning
- Policy making
- Regeneration
- Master planning
- Sustainability
- Local Government / Civil Service
What training and support will you get?
Our department will support your ongoing development, through a wide range of on-the-job practical experience. We will support your professional development through a combination of an established training programme including mentoring and networking opportunities throughout the placement.
You'll also receive one-to-one guidance throughout the programme from your:
- Placement manager: Responsible for ensuring that you feel welcomed in the organisation, your day-to-day management and support.
- Scheme sponsor: A senior manager who acts as a technical and professional adviser
What do we look for?
Our core values are extremely important to us, and we desire candidates who are:
- Caring about our colleagues, our customers and our work
- Open to each other, to new ideas and to working together
- Adaptable to diverse needs and willing to innovate
Application process
The application process consists of 5 steps, including online assessments which will need to be completed within an allocated time frame. We highly recommend that you read through this document thoroughly so that you can familiarise yourself with the process.
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!’’
Location
Stratford, London, E20 1JN
You will be expected to be in the office 4 days a week. With agreement from your manager, you may work from home one day per week.
What we offer
You will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards include:
- Free travel on the TfL network for you and a nominee who lives in the same household
- Discounted national rail and Eurostar travel
- Minimum 28 days Annual leave (Pro rata dependent on role) plus public and bank holidays.
- Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
- Retail, health, leisure and travel offers & many more
Entry requirements
- You will be at university working towards a minimum of a 2:2 degree in urban planning, geography or another relevant built-environment discipline.
- You will need to have completed at least two years of university by summer 2025 to be eligible for this scheme. This role is designed for a sandwich year student.
Start date:
8th September 2025