Savills ranked leading UK planning consultancy for number of female chartered town planners in 2026 industry report

Savills ranked leading UK planning consultancy for number of female chartered town planners in 2026 industry report

(IN BRIEF) Savills has been ranked as the top consultancy for the overall number of female town planners in the 2026 Women in Consultancy: A Planning Insight Report published by Planning Magazine. The firm now employs 80 female chartered town planners, an increase of 11 compared with the previous year, placing it first among large planning consultancies in the UK for female representation. The growth also represents the largest increase in female planners among consultancies over the past year. The recognition follows Savills maintaining the leading position in the 2025 Planning Consultancy Market Report for the tenth time in eleven years. The company attributes this progress to initiatives designed to support inclusivity and career development, including networking programmes, flexible working arrangements, and family-friendly policies. Savills also continues to promote planning careers through outreach activities with schools and colleges, encouraging more young women to enter the profession.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 10-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Savills has been recognised as the leading consultancy for the overall number of female town planners in the 2026 Women in Consultancy: A Planning Insight Report published by Planning Magazine. The latest annual survey highlights the company’s strong representation of women within its planning teams and reflects continued growth in female talent across the organisation.

According to the report, Savills now employs 80 female chartered town planners (CTPs), an increase from 69 in the previous year. This growth has moved the firm from third place to the top position among large employers with the highest number of female CTPs in the United Kingdom.

The increase also represents the largest annual growth in the number of female planners among planning consultancies during the past year, underlining Savills’ continued progress in supporting gender diversity within the sector.

The recognition follows Savills maintaining its position as the leading planning consultancy in the 2025 Planning Consultancy Market Report, marking the tenth time in eleven years that the firm has secured the top ranking.

Diana Thomson, a director within the London Planning team at Savills, highlighted the company’s initiatives aimed at supporting women within the workplace. She noted that a range of internal programmes and support networks contribute to building an inclusive working environment.

These initiatives include networking events and peer support groups, such as a working mothers’ lunch programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and family-oriented benefits designed to support employees with childcare responsibilities.

Thomson said the results of the latest report reflect both Savills’ internal efforts and the wider progress taking place across the planning industry. Having joined Savills 14 years ago as a senior planner, she described the company as a supportive environment that has continued to develop policies encouraging professional growth and work-life balance.

David Jackson, Head of Planning and Savills Earth at Savills, said the firm is proud to be recognised as the largest employer of female planners in the UK. He added that the achievement highlights the commitment of the planning division and the wider business to creating opportunities for talented professionals across the sector.

Jackson also noted that Savills actively engages with schools and colleges throughout the country to promote career opportunities within planning. The company believes that highlighting the growing presence of women in the profession can help encourage more young women to consider careers in planning and related disciplines.

Media Contacts:

Diana Thomson
Director, Planning Residential and Business Space
+44 (0) 20 3320 8250

David Jackson
Head of Planning and Savills Earth, Savills Earth
+44 (0) 20 7420 6371

SOURCE: Savills