East of England Awards for Planning Excellence | The Royal Town Planning Institute

Celebrating Planning excellence

The East of England 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 East of England Awards for Planning Excellence winners 2026 who were announced at the East of England Planning Excellence awards on 17 June at Cambridge.

Best Plan, Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Development Plan Document, submitted by Tendring District Council, Colchester City Council, Essex County Council and Hyas Associates

Best Project, Great Ouse Valley Heritage Landscape submitted by Arkwood Ltd

Best Homes and Communities Scheme, Joy's Corner submitted by Carter Jonas

Planning Authority of the Year, Essex County Council

Small Planning Consultancy of the Year, Stanfords Colchester LLP

Mid-size Planning Consultancy of the Year, Lawson Planning Partnership Ltd

Young Planner of the Year, Clara Peirson, East Suffolk Council

Chair’s Award, David Ames MRTPI, submitted by John Mason & Katie Fowler

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.