Wales Planning Award 2011

Promoted and administered by RTPI Cymru, the purpose of the Award scheme is to recognise, applaud and publicise examples of good planning practice in Wales.

Entries to the Wales Planning Award 2011 closed on 30th June.

The following criteria will be taken into account in judging the Award submissions:

1. Enhancement of the physical environment leading to recognisable social and economic benefit in terms of human happiness, greater safety and greater efficiency;
2. All projects must demonstrate how the submission adapts to, or mitigates against the threats posed by climate change as raised in the RTPI’s seven commitments on climate change;
3. How the submission has addressed all aspects of sustainable development;
4. Originality of the achievement or approach;
5. The key issues and problems that needed to be overcome;
6. Quality of the professional work involved in project design, the development of planning concepts and the application of planning techniques;
7. Extent to which the achievement may serve as a model for work elsewhere or as a basis for the development of further related schemes; and
8. The role played by the planner working in partnership with other agencies.

Shortlisted entries will be announced in the September edition of Cynllluio and the winner of the Awards announced at the RTPI Cymru Annual Dinner on 18 November at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff. 

Wales Planning Award 2010

2010 has again seen the submission of another excellent and diverse range of nominations from across Wales. In total 10 nominations have been received, from the remote and mountainous heights of Snowdon to the coast of Barry. A summary of all of the 2010 entries are listed in the Entries Brochure.

The Wales Planning Award 2010 was sponsored by DPP.

www.dppllp.com

Winner: Bridgend Town Centre Regeneration

Bridgend County Borough Council

The conservation-led regeneration of the historic core of Bridgend Town Centre scooped the 2010 Award, focussing on promoting heritage conservation as an integral part of the social and economic regeneration of the town centre.

It involved the sympathetic repair and restoration of12 historic buildings and the Angel Gateway project which created a cantilevered walkway and curved bridge over the River Ogmore, enhancing business opportunities for properties adjacent to the river.

The Award judges felt that the scheme had been delivered through a comprehensive regeneration plan by a small in-house team with extensive understanding and appreciation of the value of urban conservation. Owners and local craftsmen have been enthused by training courses in shopfront design, traditional carpentry and the use of lime mortars and other materials. A town centre manager has been employed to reinforce and further the urban realm work.

Commended: Brewery Yard Regeneration Scheme, Abergavenny

Monmouthshire County Council

The Brewery Yard Scheme located close to Abergavenny town centre, is in the centre of a Conservation Area, bounded by landmark Grade II listed buildings. Irregular in shape and incorporating a drop in levels along two axes, its development was required to deliver an improved link between the nearby cattlemarket re-development site and the retail and civic heart of the town.

The final scheme, the outcome of several years’ planning between Monmouthshire County Council and the local community, provides an attractive and flexible public open space, founded on a series of contemporary cascading terraces.

The judges saw this as an incisive intervention, transforming previously disconnected backland sites into an attractive space that can be adapted to a multiplicity of uses, providing a link between the town centre and the cattle market redevelopment site. The attention to detail is evident throughout, much of it relating to the historic use of the site as a brewery, with the use of local materials and artwork features. The scheme has opened-up once hidden views of the impressive rear façade of the market hall.

Commended: System Street Public Realm Improvement Scheme, Cardiff

Cardiff Council

The scheme, including a linear residential street located less than 1km from the City Centre, part of a neighbouring street and adjacent public open space, provided a challenge to create an environment where pedestrians and cyclists could move safely, whilst maintaining vehicle access.

From start to finish, the approach involved close consultation and engagement with local residents and a nearby school. Being ‘design-led’ rather than ‘highway engineered’, meant that the street and openspace could be designed together to create a single place, using paving materials to create continuous footpaths and shared surfaces. The primary function of the area as a thoroughfare was enhanced, whilst also creating a pleasant environment for local residents; the streets and openspace now function as one environment.

The judges concluded that the scheme demonstrates the value of a planner-led approach to complex public realm issues. Throughout the long and iterative process of balancing the wishes of the community with the technical requirements, the urban design integrity of the scheme was maintained. The judges were particularly impressed by the planner’s negotiation of an innovative lighting solution, powered by surplus capacity from the adjoining school’s photovoltaic array.

Wales Planning Award 2009

Winner: St David's Gateway: St David’s Gallery and Oriel y Parc 

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority

Oriel Y Parc is the main focal point for visitors entering St David's. It provides a car park encouraging visitors to explore the area by bus or by foot. The centre houses galleries, educational facilities, Visitor Centre and café and has achieved BREEAM Excellent.

The Wales Planning Award 2009 was awarded to the scheme because in the opinion of the judges the project provides a model of good practice for the management of large numbers of tourists in environmentally sensitive areas.

The project went on to scoop the RTPI’s national Award for Rural Areas and the Natural Environment.

Commended: Cardiff Conservation Area Appraisal Programme

Cardiff County Council

The judges felt that recognition should be given to the comprehensive way that Cardiff Council’s planners tackled this work, the way they involved local communities and the fact that the appraisals provide an agreed framework for the Council’s activities in Conservation Areas.

Author:

Roisin Willmott

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

06-Jul-11

Categories:

Nations & Regions 

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