Innovative housing schemes, a town centre regeneration and a country estate in Somerset were among the winners at this year’s Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, winners of individual categories at the Awards and of the prestigious Silver Jubilee Cup, awarded to the project judged best overall, were revealed this year in a Premiere hosted on the RTPI’s YouTube channel.
Marmalade Lane, a 'co-housing’ community near Cambridge, submitted by Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and development company TOWN, carried off the Silver Jubilee Cup and also won in the Small Housing Schemes and Health and Wellbeing categories.
Other category winners at the ceremony included the regeneration of Wokingham town centre, submitted by Wokingham Borough Council, the New Lubbesthorpe housing scheme near Leicester, submitted by Blaby District Council, and The Newt in Somerset, submitted by AZ Urban Studio & South Somerset District Council.
RTPI President Sue Manns said: “The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is challenging us all to think about what is important in our lives and the lives of those around us, the local places and spaces around us, the way that we work, use our homes and communicate with others. This year’s winners shine a spotlight on the very best practice in delivering future places and spaces that work for everyone. They provide us with inspiration and confidence in the future of our profession.”
Sadie Morgan, design industry leader and Chair of the judging panel, said: “The coronavirus outbreak has caused a massive reset – an enforced shutdown that will affect our livelihoods, our relationships and our wellbeing for years to come. Yet as we look at the shortlist and this year’s overall winner, it is clear that the values imbedded in these projects will set the example for the changing world that we now inhabit. Planners had a critical role in the success of all the winning projects, and we must not forget the importance of collaboration and of allowing innovation and ingenuity to thrive - these will be essential in the months and years ahead.”
Teams and individuals recognized at the event included Anglian Water Services Limited (In-house Planning Team of the Year), Tower Hamlets Council (Local Authority Planning Team of the Year), Atriarc Planning (Small Planning Consultancy of the Year) and Nexus Planning Limited (Planning Consultancy of the Year). Robyn Skerratt, Team Leader at the Department of International Development, was crowned Young Planner of the Year.
Sarah Elliott MRTPI, Buildings Places Town Planning Lead at headline sponsor AECOM, said: “This year’s RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence act as a reminder that planning is crucial to delivering the kind of places we need today and in the future. Despite the ongoing lockdown, we’re pleased that we’ve been able to continue our sponsorship of the ceremony, and hope that our involvement will allow these worthy winners and finalists to reap the benefits of their industry accolades.”
David Jackson MRTPI, Head of Planning at headline sponsor Savills, said: “We were delighted to be able to continue our involvement with the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence this year. We would like to congratulate all of the category winners and the Silver Jubilee Cup winner who reflect the positive impact planning has had on our communities and will continue to have during these unprecedented times.”
Full list of winners and commended entries at the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2020
Silver Jubilee Cup (awarded to project judged best overall)
- WINNER – Marmalade Lane, submitted by TOWN & Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service
Excellence in Plan Making Practice
- WINNER – Wind Microclimatic Guidelines, submitted by City of London
- COMMENDED – Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2031: Managing growth and sharing the benefits, submitted by London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy
- WINNER – Wokingham Town Centre Regeneration, submitted by Wokingham Borough Council
- COMMENDED – Calton Barras Project, submitted by Glasgow City Council
Excellence in Planning for Health and Wellbeing
- WINNER – Marmalade Lane, submitted by TOWN & Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service
- COMMENDED – Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre, submitted by Arup and BS Stanford Ltd
Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture
- WINNER – The Newt in Somerset, submitted by AZ Urban Studio & South Somerset District Council
Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment
- WINNER – South Humber Gateway Mitigation Strategy, submitted by North East Lincolnshire Council/Engie
Excellence in Planning to Deliver Homes - small schemes (up to 50 homes)
- WINNER – Marmalade Lane, submitted by TOWN & Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service
Excellence in Planning to Deliver Homes - large schemes (50 or more homes)
- WINNER – New Lubbesthorpe, submitted by Blaby District Council
Excellence in Tech Within Planning Practice
- WINNER – Affordable Homes Monitoring, submitted by Southwark Council
International Award for Planning Excellence
- WINNER – Hills at Charlesworth Sustainability Plaza (Canada), submitted by Stantec Consulting Ltd
- COMMENDED – Slender West Lake Region Masterplan (China), submitted by Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning & Design Institute
In-house Planning Team of the Year
- WINNER – Anglian Water Services Limited
- COMMENDED – Planning Aid Wales
Local Authority Planning Team of the Year
- WINNER – London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council (London)
- COMMENDED – apT, Telford & Wrekin Council (West Midlands)
Small Planning Consultancy of the Year
- WINNER – Atriarc Planning (Wales)
- COMMENDED – Kevin Murray Associates (Scotland)
Planning Consultancy of the Year
- WINNER – Nexus Planning Limited (South East)
- COMMENDED – Edgars (South East)
Young Planner of the Year
- WINNER – Robyn Skerratt (London)
