Bath and North East Somerset Council

BaNES Council’s Planning Service is a supportive, hard‑working team that cares about its communities and the places it helps to shape. They handle thousands of applications each year while still finding the time to work positively with residents, applicants and partners. The team is proud of its practical, down‑to‑earth approach, including helping people improve their homes, supporting major projects, or leading national work on retrofitting historic buildings. Staff look after each other, keep learning, and stay motivated through strong teamwork. This year, they’re also raising money for Julian House to support vulnerable people locally.

Bristol City Council (Development Management)

Bristol City Council’s Development Management team has delivered an exceptional turnaround, overcoming a significant planning application backlog through hard work, determination and collective resolve. With amazing team work, innovative practices and a clear focus on staff wellbeing, the team cleared 1,800 unallocated applications within a year and now consistently exceeds statutory targets for non‑major decisions. Their collaborative approach, improved customer experience and open engagement with applicants and agents have transformed service quality. This hard‑won and unprecedented recovery reflects the team’s professionalism, resilience and dedication to delivering an excellent planning service.