We're delighted to announce winners in the South East Awards for Planning Excellence 2024.
Best in Region and Best Project:
Brighton 3Ts – Louisa Martindale Building entered by BDP and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
BDP’s planning strategy adopts a long-term approach to deliver a state-of-the-art Major Trauma Centre, secure future estate redevelopment and decarbonisation, and enable significantly upgraded healthcare in Sussex and beyond. Comprehensive public, stakeholder and clinical engagement since 2009 has led to the achievement of full planning consent in 2012, enabling the Louisa Martindale Building to open its doors in 2023 as the significant first step in delivering the wider 3Ts scheme. The delivered hospital provides 316 beds, 28 wards and departments, a helicopter landing pad, an enhanced ‘front door’ to the wider hospital estate, and enhanced public and green space.
Judges’ citation: The judging panel felt that holistic plan led approach integrating the application into the wider estate strategy and addressing issues such as decanting needs was clear. The benefits for the wider community of such consolidation onto a site with high accessibility is also clear from the evidence, resulting in an excellent score in that category. The approach was felt to have ‘gone further’ by using its location and function to improve outcomes. The judges also felt that delivering a BREEAM excellent health service building must be especially challenging in such an urban location for a high energy user, so that again make the evidence even more compelling. Excellent evidence was also included on the consultation approach engagement was with a broad range of stakeholders and included responses to issues raised. The applicability to other NHS schemes (and other public buildings) of the approach taken is clear, so it has the potential to lead practice and deliver wider benefits.
Best Plan:
Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document entered by South Downs National Park Authority
The SDNPA Design Guide supports a landscape-led approach to design within the setting of the protected landscape that is the South Downs National Park, creating sustainable places that conserve and enhance its natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage. The document defines the landscape-led approach and illustrates it with guidance on good practice in both process and in detailed design guidance across a large range of themes.
Judges’ citation: Judges were impressed with the sustainable outcomes, especially in relation to climate change. The design guide also prioritized designing for older communities, including dementia-friendly guidance and broader accessibility issues, which would have more comprehensive benefits. The design guide aims to foster local communities' social and economic wellbeing within the National Park.
Small Planning Consultancy of the Year:
ONH
ONH is a social enterprise planning and design consultancy serving community clients and development partners in cities, suburbs, towns and
villages. It provides communities with a neighbourhood planning service – an ONH record of 18 plans were made in 2023 – and professional advocacy in making representations on planning authority documents and participating at examination hearings.
ONH provides communities and SME builder partners with a range of development management support services. It makes representations for communities on planning applications and acts as an expert witness at appeal inquiries. It also brings communities and builders together to deliver homes and infrastructure.
Judges’ citation: The judges were impressed by the team’s approach which shows innovation, commitment to learning and development, and a creative approach that places planning as a positive force for change.
Young Planner of the Year:
Elouise Mitchell, Lee Evans Partnership LLP
Elouise Mitchell, Senior Planning Consultant at LEP, is an outstanding planner through any lens – ‘young’ or ‘not-so-young’. Few people can successfully balance the approachable, bubbly enthusiasm Elouise shows every day with the sharp professional competence her work exudes.
Elouise openly describes herself as a “confident and determined planner, passionate about providing great places for people to live, work and play”. There are limited ways to expand on this – she knows herself well, and puts into action exactly the type of exemplary planning practices that serve our profession so well.
Judges’ citation: The judges were impressed with Elouise breadth of experience and her recent strength and emphasis on changing the "norm" of play space provision by a national housebuilder. She demonstrates a strong ability to influence outcomes and to navigate complex planning projects. Elouise also actively contributes to the RTPI in her local area. She also shows the versatility of the planning profession having moved from a legal background into planning profession. Congratulations and well-done Elouise!
Chair’s Award:
This is discretionary award given by the RTPI SE chair. The theme is ‘Design’.
Saltdean Lido, Brighton
London architect, Richard W. H. Jones, designed Saltdean Lido in the ‘International Style’ – an architectural movement that developed in Europe following the First World War. After years of neglect, the Save Saltdean Lido Campaign was set up in March 2010 and in 2011, Saltdean Lido was upgraded to Grade II* status and placed on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register. Now, over 10 years later, the building has recently re-opened for a mix of community, leisure, library, offices, café/restaurant and function/events uses. Embracing modernity, it’s architecture is considered to be the apogee of lido design; epitomising some of the best elements of the modernist movement and is regarded by many critics as one of the best surviving examples of lido design in the UK. In 2018, it was named by English Heritage as one of the Seven Wonders of The English Seaside.
Commendation:
Small Planning Consultancy of the Year:
Laister Planning Ltd
Judges were impressed by the systematic and pro-active approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and their expertise on leisure and tourism which are often complex and in politically sensitive locations.
WWA
Judges applauded WWA on staff development and training. Their commitment to work around sustainability and responding to climate change is a stand-out element where other can learn from.
Young Planner of the Year:
Aya Mohamed, David Lock Associates
The judges were impressed with Aya’s commitment to her own personal development and that of others and especially to EDi and in supporting international students. With only a few years’ experience Aya still manages to demonstrate a wide range of abilities to work in different scale and complexity of projects.
Tsz Lok Ng (Jeffrey), NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board
The judges commended Jeffery on his remarkable commitment to the practice of town planning working across policy, DM, minerals and waste and within the Institute. He is also an active volunteer within the Institute and other built environment networks and is a credible advocate for the profession and for planning as a pursuit.
