North West Awards for Planning Excellence | The Royal Town Planning Institute

Celebrating Planning Excellence

The North West Awards for Planning Excellence continue to recognise and highlight the positive contribution planning professionals make in the communities we serve around the world.

Congratulations to the North West Awards for Planning Excellence winners 2026 who were announced at our Annual Dinner on Friday 19 June at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

Winners

Best Plan, Holt Town Neighbourhood Development Framework, submitted by Deloitte LLP
Best Project, North View and North Manchester General Hospital, submitted by WSP UK Ltd
Best Homes and Communities Scheme, Ancoats Dispensary, submitted by Deloitte LLP
Planning Authority of the Year, South Ribble Borough Council
Mid-size Planning Consultancy of the Year, Hive Land and Planning
Young Planner of the Year, Charlotte Greenhow, nominated by Catherine Thomas
Chair’s Award, Joanne Harding, nominated by Bob Phillips

Commendations

Best Plan, Higham Whole Estate Plan, submitted by Lake District National Park Authority and Crosby Granger Architects
Planning Authority of the Year, Sefton Council
Young Planner of the Year, Sophie Stanton and Shaun Knights

Judges Awards

Successful Economy Winner, The Edge, Cumbria’s Coastal Activities Centre, Whitehaven, submitted by Cumberland Council
Heritage and Culture Winner, Sunlight House, submitted by Savills / Karrev
Heritage and Culture Commendation, Science and Industry Museum, Power Hall, submitted by Deloitte LLP
Heritage and Culture Commendation, Mill One, Cotton Works, Wigan, submitted by Paul Butler Associates / The Heaton Group
Planning for Wellbeing and Education, North View at North Manchester General Hospital, submitted by WSP UK Ltd

Winning and commended entries

Best Plan

Best Project

Best Homes and Communities Scheme

Mid Size Planning Consultancy of the Year

Planning Authority of the Year

Young Planner of the Year

Chair's Award

A stepping stone to our national celebration

These winners become national finalists except for Young Planner of the Year who will be judged by the national judges in September. The top five will become Young Planner of the Year national finalists.

High scoring shortlisted project and housing entries* from the regions and nations are also put through for judging in the national awards and will be judged against the other projects and housing entries in their selected categories for the national finalist list. The remaining four direct to national categories** are also judged to complete the national finalist list of 16 categories.

The national finalists will be revealed on 7 October and the winners will be announced and celebrated on 3 December 2026. Details will be published here.

*Project categories:

Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy

Excellence in Planning for Wellbeing and Education

Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture

Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment

Homes categories:

Excellence in Planning for Homes and Communities (small schemes under 50 homes)

Excellence in Planning for Homes and Communities (mid-sized schemes 50-250 homes)

Excellence in Planning for Homes and Communities (large schemes over 250 homes)

**Direct to national categories:

Excellence in Digital Planning Practice

International Award for Planning Excellence

In-house Planning Team of the Year

Planning Consultancy of the Year

Thank you to the judges

Thank you to our judges for generously volunteering their time, dedication, and expertise to the judging process, including participating in interviews and site visits. Your commitment and support are truly appreciated.