Celebrating Planning Excellence
The Cymru 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 Cymru Awards for Planning Excellence winners 2026 who were announced at the Awards and Summer Party on 17 June at The Botanist, Cardiff.
- Best Plan, Monmouthshire Placemaking Plans submitted by Monmouthshire County Council, Abergavenny Town Council, Magor with Undy Town Council, Monmouth Town Council, and Chris Jones Regeneration in Best Plan
- Best Project, Best Project category is Phase 2 of the Saundersfoot Harbour Redevelopment Project submitted by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Saundersfoot Harbour
- Young Planner of the Year, Ruth Jones MRTPI from WSP
- Chair’s Award, The Good Practice Guidance Planning for Dark Skies submitted by the Dark Skies Working Group Wales
There were also commendations for Ceredigion Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans submitted by Ceredigion County Council for the Best Plan category, and Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron Valley Primary School submitted by Ceredigion County Council for the Best Project category.
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.
Sponsors
Sponsoring the RTPI Cymru Awards for Planning Excellence is a powerful way to visibly support planning excellence and connect with a highly engaged professional audience.
If you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact wales@rtpi.org.uk
For more information
If you have any questions, please visit the Awards hub or contact wales@rtpi.org.uk