A state-of-the-art motorway service station has been unveiled as this year’s winner of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Yorkshire Awards for Planning Excellence.
The innovative building in East Leeds, which has a unique biodiverse green roof, visitor centre and viewing platform - was crowned the winner and beat off stiff competition in the prestigious awards.
Spawforths, a multidisciplinary consultancy of architects and planners, scooped the prize and the judges praised the winning entries innovation, economic benefits and environmental credentials.
The Yorkshire Awards for Planning Excellence celebrate examples of how planning and planners make a positive impact on our quality of life, creating exceptional places to live, play and work whilst protecting our environment.
Derek McKenzie, RTPI Yorkshire Chair said: “A worthy winner that explains the central role of planners in delivering a multi-faceted scheme that meets an essential need, aims to maximise the economic benefits for the local community and minimise the environmental impacts. A very innovative project. Congratulations to Spawforths and the team.”
As well as the Yorkshire Planning Excellence project award, judges saw a strong number of entries for this year’s Young Planner of the Year category. The prize seeks out the brightest members in the early stages of their careers and Young Planners who can demonstrate a contribution to planning or significant career achievements in recent years.
Abbie Miladinovic [pictured, left], Senior Planner at Leeds City Council, won this year’s award. Judges praised Abbie’s dedication, experience and extensive voluntary work. Highly commended Young Planners were Rebecca Burrows, Head of Heritage at Lanpro and Lucy Dunhill, a postgraduate student at the University of Sheffield.
This year’s Chair’s award - an award for individual planners who, in the eyes of their peers, have made an outstanding contribution in their organisation or community in the fight against COVID 19 - went to Will Wilson, Lead Neighbourhood Planner at Bassetlaw District Council.
