Recognised Practitioner in Urban Design
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Professionals with a suitable balance of education and experience can apply to become a Recognised Practitioner in Urban Design. The distinction provides a wide range of professionals with a valued affiliation (in many cases an additional one), proclaiming their commitment to and experience of urban design. |
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Being a Recognised Practitioner can give those working in urban design a stronger sense of identity and common purpose, as well as greater influence on professional practice and public policy. Recognised Practitioners are professionals with a wide range of skills and experience of designing in an urban context. Many of the new generation of professionals have more than one professional affiliation and they expect - indeed they are often required - to develop new skills and areas of expertise throughout their career.
Recognised Practitioners come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds including:
- Urban Design
- Highway and Civil Engineering
- Building Conservation
- Development Control
- Landscape Architecture
- Lighting
- Architecture
- Regeneration and Development
- Transport Planning
- and other professions
The core of the Recognised Practitioner assessment is the Capacitycheck system, which enables people from a wide range of different backgrounds and roles to be considered, including practitioners involved in policy formulation, research or academia.
Recognised Practitioners can use the RP logo on their business cards, stationery and email signature and are also listed in the UDG Directory.
How to Apply
- Read the guidance, complete the application form
Word Format
PDF Format - Ask two appropriate sponsors to complete the sponsor's declaration in the application form.
- Email the form to administration@udg.org.uk and, as of 16 July 2026, pay the relevant application fee*
- Applications are reviewed by our Assesment Panel (comprising members of the UDG Executive Committee). Assessment meetings are held every other month. The dates for 2026 are as follows and applications should be received no later than two weeks before the meeting:
- Wednesday 29 July (application deadline: 23:59 on Wednesday 15 July)
- Friday 25 September (application deadline: 23:59 on Friday 11 September)
- Wednesday 25 November (application deadline: 23:59 on Wednesday 11 November)
Recognised Practitioner membership costs £110 per year.
As of 16 July 2026, we are introducing an application fee to help cover the administrative costs associated with the Recognised Practitioner assessment process. The fee will be introduced on a phased basis as follows:
- Applications received before 16 July 2026 - No application fee
- Applications received between 16 July and 31 December 2026 - £50.00
- Applications received between 1 January and 30 June 2027 - £100
- Applications received on or after 1 July 2027 - £150
The applicable fee will be determined by the date on which a completed application is received.
Please use the following link to pay the appropriate application fee:
IMPORTANT
The award of Recognised Practitioner in Urban Design is made by the Urban Design Group, on the basis of information submitted in the application form and declarations made by the candidate, in addition to the recommendation of two independent sponsors.
At the time the award is made, each candidate is able to demonstrate - by their declared experience and qualifications - that they have sought to contribute to best practice in urban design and should, in the opinion of the application review panel, be capable of making a valued contribution to urban design in future years.
