David Johnson has achieved Chartered Town Planner status with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), marking a significant professional milestone and strengthening Binnies’ planning capability. His achievement enhances the support available to clients delivering complex infrastructure projects, particularly where planning, environmental assessment and stakeholder considerations need to be closely aligned.
For David, planning has always been about the connection between development, the environment and the communities projects serve.
David’s route to chartership reflects the breadth of experience available across Binnies. Having worked in environmental consultancy for around 15 years, he drew on a wide range of project experience, including a two-and-a-half-year secondment with the Environment Agency on the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme. Working alongside planning consultants and planning officers provided valuable insight into the planning process and a broader perspective that continues to inform the way he leads environmental impact assessment (EIA) projects today.
The chartership process also enabled David to deepen his technical knowledge of planning and infrastructure delivery. He commented: “Becoming chartered has definitely given me a confidence boost. It shows that the skills and experience I have built throughout my career are recognised as meeting the professional standards required by the RTPI. The process also helped me learn more about all aspects of planning, strengthening my understanding of planning theory and the role planning plays in infrastructure development.”
For clients, the benefits are clear. As a Chartered Town Planner, David brings independently recognised expertise that can help project teams navigate planning requirements, environmental considerations and development consent processes with greater confidence. This strengthens Binnies’ ability to provide integrated advice on complex infrastructure projects, supporting smoother delivery and better outcomes.
Reflecting on the achievement, David added,
A key part of that support came through Binnies’ mentoring programme, where David was paired with a Chartered Town Planner who sponsored his application and provided guidance and encouragement throughout the process. He developed his application through a combination of personal study and allocated work time, giving him the space to focus and make steady progress.
David’s success highlights Binnies’ commitment to investing in professional development while building the specialist expertise needed to support clients through complex planning, environmental and infrastructure challenges. His achievement strengthens Binnies’ integrated planning and environmental capability, helping deliver infrastructure that benefits clients, communities and the environment.