Good negotiation and land-use planning: the status of negotiation in the NSW planning profession

Planning in New South Wales is undertaken within a performance-based system that invites negotiation on planning and development matters. Therefore, negotiation is an essential skill and core activity for land-use planning professionals. The aims of this research were to reveal how planners in NSW value negotiation; to determine how aware they are of good negotiation techniques; to determine if the profession adequately prepares practitioners in this skill and to identify if planners working in private practice and local or state governments negotiate differently. Respondents agreed that negotiation is an essential activity in land-use planning and that it leads to better planning outcomes. They also shared a high level of understanding and commitment to good negotiation despite the lack of specific training in the area. However, statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences on negotiation and good planning outcomes, preparation and withholding information. Other factors such as training, seniority and having worked in government and private practice may also influence some negotiation practices.