Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment
Overview
This award celebrates outstanding projects that improve the natural environment through conservation, restoration or enhancement. We're looking for exceptional work in areas such as:
- Green and blue infrastructure.
- Biodiversity enhancement.
- Natural resource management.
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation.
- Improving access to the natural environment.
Important: All entries must provide evidence of success, not just intentions. We accept both quantitative metrics and qualitative evidence, including but not limited to:
- Statistical data
- Qualitative assessments
- Survey results
- Visual documentation
- Testimonials
Eligibility
Projects must be completed between 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2024. You may submit the same project for multiple categories, but each submission needs a separate entry form focused on category-specific criteria. Winning projects cannot be resubmitted. Projects that were previously shortlisted or commended may be resubmitted.
Projects must have been completed in accordance with the approved plans and in compliance with any planning conditions and must not be subject to ongoing formal enforcement action. If this issue arises following submission, you are required to notify us by emailing [email protected]
Judging criteria
The following questions include prompts to help you answer – these are to provide a guide and you only need to address the prompts that are relevant to your project.
Where possible, please link your answers to the UN sustainable development goals.
Important: All entries must provide evidence of success, not just intentions. We accept both quantitative metrics and qualitative evidence, including but not limited to:
- Statistical data
- Qualitative assessments
- Survey results
- Visual documentation
- Testimonials
Projects must have been completed in accordance with the approved plans and in compliance with any planning conditions and must not be subject to ongoing formal enforcement action. If this arises following submission, you are required to notify us by emailing [email protected]
Assessment areas
1. Project Excellence
Explain how your project demonstrates excellence in planning for the natural environment, including:
- Environmental improvement
- Sustainability measures
- Alignment with wider policy objectives
- Integration of green and blue infrastructure
- Biodiversity enhancement
- Provision of infrastructure
- Creative and innovative approaches
- Measurable outcomes
- How your project goes beyond standard practice
2. The role of planners
Highlight the specific contribution of planners to your project's success and long-term benefits relevant to this category.
What lessons / best practice could be taken from your project and applied elsewhere?
How did planners demonstrate leadership and/or work collaboratively with other professionals?
3. Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Describe your community and stakeholder engagement approach relating to your project, highlighting:
- Innovation and reach
- Evidence of the scope and success of the engagement.
- Approaches/methods used to ensure the engagement is accessible and inclusive
- How community feedback and responses have shaped the project
Please include any relevant statistics and reference how the project responded to that feedback.
4. Inclusive Planning
Detail how the project addresses barriers and promotes inclusivity e.g. through:
- Creating safe and accessible spaces for all users
- Promoting community health, wellbeing and cohesion
- Reducing poverty and stimulating growth
- Improving access to jobs, economic opportunities and/or homes
- Safeguarding and enhancing the built and/or natural environment.
5. Climate Action
Demonstrate how your project is addressing the climate and nature emergencies and overcoming related challenges e.g. through:
- Contribution to net-zero
- Biodiversity enhancement
- Locating development sustainably
- Energy-efficient building design / retrofitting
- Adapting to or mitigating climate change
- Renewable energy / clean heat
- Sustainable use of materials
- Innovative approaches to project delivery