The role of creativity in planning: The 'creative practitioner'

Recent research by the Town Planning Network (1999) has highlighted the importance of developing a creative mindset for planners, a concept that is relevant for initial professional education, practice and continuing professional development alike. Creative thinking is a key capability that helps individuals and organisations deal with and manage change, which is fundamental to the nature of the planning process. As change becomes more rapid and discontinuous, it is crucial that there are people in the profession that are able to turn problems into opportunities, while acknowledging the contradictions. Often, this involves seeing things from a new perspective and breaking away from traditional ways of thinking that may have lost their meaning. Critical reflection can help unlock potential, but too often gets squeezed out during the 'busyness' of everyday tasks. Creativity is a word known to us all, but what does it really mean? Can it be taught or learned? What are planning schools and employers doing to encourage it? This article will try to answer these questions, summarising the results of the Town Planning Network research, carried out in the UK.