Matthew Harmsworth MRTPI is a Principal Social Value and Town Planning Consultant at Arcadis UK, a member of RTPI East of England’s Regional Management Board and Co-Lead of the Neurodiversity in Planning Network.
I will always remember the 20th of June for winning the RTPI East of England Young Planner of the Year 2024 award. It's a huge honour and it feels like quite a journey coming to this point through my unique career path, full of twists and turns, starting out with a BSc in Psychology and PGDip in Audiology through to becoming a fully chartered member of the Institute and onwards.
Here's a simple breakdown of my career path:
Reflecting on the award, now the dust has settled, I'm truly inspired to focus on building a better future for everyone - from young to old, including people, plants, and animals. In my career, I've learned the importance of understanding various disciplines to be a better planner. It's crucial for town planners to keep learning and appreciating different aspects related to planning and I believe it is critical for town planners to continually develop practical appreciation for as many different disciplines and phenomena that relate to the planning process as our brains will allow. The planner who understands what makes a good hedgehog highway can better support the preservation of a beloved animal. The planner who listens empathetically to neurodiverse needs will better plan for all. The planner who is cognisant of commercial and employment factors is better placed to support effective delivery. The learning process never ends! And that should not be something we feel cynical about or exhausted by; it is an exciting ever-present opportunity within the under-rated profession we are in – we can improve quality of life for all every day!
What does the world want from us?
I believe it wants us to listen to it, take good care of it and to deliver the kind of environment that brings happiness. As a father of three young children, I know that they don’t always fully understand my reasoning for my decisions even when I feel as though I have fully explained it to them to the best of my ability. But you can be sure that they better respect me and my decisions when they feel listened to. One more round of play is what makes the difference between a good dad, and the best daddy! Similarly, that extra effort above and beyond to collaborate, to listen, or to do that extra due diligence, is what makes the difference between a good planner, and the planners of a better world. Just like I communicate with my children to help them and earn their respect, as town planners, we must listen to our stakeholders and be a genuine force for public good to create a better world for everyone.
The Neurodiversity in Planning network is aligned in its vision for such world. I co-lead the network and fundamentally what we strive to achieve is promoting neuro-inclusive practices throughout the built environment. Only by listening to what others need to bloom and then feeding in the right things to make that happen will we realise the true potential of our environment. I encourage everyone to follow and support us in our mission and we welcome any and all on this.
What is my focus for my year as the RTPI East of England’s Young Planner of the Year?
I have three areas of key action, and three changes I would like to see and promote within the profession.
Action
- Supporting young planners and their families through mentoring and education.
- Promoting neuro-inclusive practices with the Neurodiversity in Planning Network and Arcadis.
- Emphasising high-quality town planning practices and showcasing the achievements of UK town planners.
Changes within the Profession
- Every local plan to have a dementia specific planning policy – planning for dementia results is good urban design for all, it can tangibly and clearly outline what is a good design, and should be aligned with the delivery of accessible housing. It could combine and simplify multiple issues and policies into one clear policy message.
- Bring back regional planning – there is so much this could do to speed up planning, especially for delivering the major infrastructure schemes, and this in a manner where the private and public sectors support each other effectively.
- Social value to be universally and consistently enshrined within planning at a local level – there is no denying that there is great dissatisfaction, misunderstanding and opposition from many of the most vocal members of the general public regarding planning and development, with the long-term benefits not being fully realised or appreciated. Having a consistent link between social value and town planning will demonstrate how much we care about delivering the tangible, local outcomes that each place is most in need of.
I look forward to collaborating with many of you to achieve these goals and improve quality of life for all of us. Please do reach out to me if you want to have a chat!
Read more about all this year’s winners at the RTPI East of England’s Awards for Planning Excellence.
Find out more about the Neurodiversity in Planning Network
