Highways and transportation practitioners can now apply to become Chartered Transport Planning Professionals through the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT).

CIHT has been granted an amendment to its Royal Charter to award the title Chartered Transport Planning Professional (CTPP) to those who successfully complete the Transport Planning Professional qualification.

This amendment is a result of CIHT petitioning the Privy Council for Transport Planning to be formally recognised as equal to other chartered professional qualifications.

Matthew Lugg, CIHT President, said:

'CIHT is delighted to have been granted the Chartered Transport Planning Professional title. We have many transport planners in our membership and the CTPP will give them the opportunity to achieve the level of professional recognition that they deserve for the important and highly skilled work that they do.'

‘The benefits of becoming professionally qualified are well documented, and we are really pleased to be able to add the CTPP title to our range of qualifications. By becoming a Chartered Transport Planning Professional, highways and transportation professionals can demonstrate they have the necessary skills and expertise to continue to deliver initiatives in our sector.’

The Transport Planning Professional (TPP) qualification, awarded by CIHT and the Transport Planning Society (TPS), has been running for 10 years and is highly regarded by the transport planning profession. The qualification assesses a broad range of technical competencies as well as high level management skills. Entry to the qualification was previously restricted to members of CIHT and the TPS but this has now be extended to other recognised professional bodies whose areas of interest include transport planning and who meet the agreed criteria.

Stephen Bennett, Chair of the Transport Planning Society, said:

"I am absolutely thrilled that the transport planning profession now has its own chartered title, reflecting the importance of its role in society today. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by CIHT and representatives from the TPS over the last four years and I would like to thank all those involved. We are convinced that the additional title will encourage all transport planning professionals to work towards TPP and CTPP and are completely committed to working together with CIHT and other institutions to promote them as widely as possible in the coming months."

Current holders of the Transport Planning Professional qualification will be able to apply for the chartered title via a simple process on the CIHT website. New applicants will also be guided on how to achieve this milestone.

More information about becoming a Chartered Transport Planning Professional is available here on the CIHT website.

ENDS

Notes for editors

Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation

CIHT is a membership organisation representing over 14,000 people who work in the highways and transportation sector.

CIHT members plan, design, build, operate and maintain best-in-class transport systems and infrastructure, whilst respecting the imperatives of improving safety, ensuring economic competitiveness and minimising environmental impact.

CIHT supports its member's professional endeavours by:
• offering training, information, professional development and support
• promoting the value added to society by the profession
• being the focused voice to Governments and other decision makers on transportation expertise and knowledge.

For more information please contact:

Daniel Isichei, Director of Communications, Daniel.Isichei@ciht.org.uk t: +44(0)20 7336 1567 m: 07912 122573 www.ciht.org.uk

Transport Planning Society

TPS was founded in 1997 as a society to facilitate, develop and promote best practice in transport planning and provide a focus for dialogue between all those engaged in it, whatever their background or other professional affiliation.

For more information please contact:

Keith Buchan, TPS Director of Skills, skills@tps.org.uk t: +442089940900 m: 07788724827 TPS website: www.tps.org.uk