The things I know - Roger Daniels

Planning, 26 September 2008

- Where did you study planning?

My planning education began with a postgraduate course at University College London and still continues.

- What skills did you have when you graduated?

Generic skills in literacy, numeracy and reasoning and a patchy understanding of the planning system, forecasting models and development economics.

- What attracted you to planning?

I developed an interest at school in Bath, at a time when city planning and conservation seemed to be in needless conflict - as they still are.

- What did you learn in your first job?

I organised surveys for a county-wide information system to monitor land availability and development progress. I learned that efficient monitoring captures data when it is created, but that local authorities find it difficult.

- What skills have you had to learn over your career?

Responding to unreasonable political expectations is the hardest thing to learn and I am not sure that I have.

- What or who have been the biggest influences on your career?

Moving between public and private sectors has provided a balanced view of the planning system.

- What is your career highlight?

A project in East Cambridgeshire which showed that consultants can play a much larger role in plan preparation than is often recognised.

- What have you learnt outside work that has influenced your career?

Most people do not define town and country planning in terms of legislation and regulations. Neither should professionals.

- What further skills do you aim to obtain or develop?

I would like to better understand geographical information systems.

- How important is it to keep abreast of developments in allied professions?

There is a pressing need for better integration of land-use and transport planning, which the RTPI is beginning to reflect through its development planning and transport networks.