South East Awards for Planning Excellence

Wates Developments, part of the fourth-generation, family-owned Wates Group, specialises in residential land, planning, and development across the South, West, Midlands, and Home Counties. Guided by our purpose—reimagining places for people to thrive—we partner with landowners to secure valuable planning consents that unlock land potential where new homes are needed most. Our financial strength, corporate stability, and long-term commitment make us a trusted partner for landowners and developers alike.

We maintain a large and growing portfolio of residential development land and invest in development schemes through joint ventures with house builder delivery partners. Building communities from the ground up, we create sustainable, inclusive developments that enhance biodiversity, support economic resilience, and strengthen community well-being.

With a team of experienced professionals and a focus on integrity, innovation, and lasting value, we aim to be the UK’s leading sustainable land promoter, leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

www.wates.co.uk/services/develop

“Wates Developments is proud to sponsor the RTPI South East Awards for Planning Excellence 2025, celebrating the transformative impact of planning professionals across our region. As a family-owned business with deep roots in the South East, we are committed to reimagining places for people to thrive. Supporting these awards reflects our dedication to sustainable, inclusive development and our belief in the power of planning to shape vibrant, resilient communities.”

Vistry Group is the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes. Our purpose as a responsible developer is to work in partnership to deliver sustainable homes, communities, and social value, leaving a lasting legacy of places people love.

Operating across 26 regions, we build homes for those who need them right across the UK, including Devon, Cornwall and Bristol. We sell homes on the open market through the Group’s three respected housebuilding brands: Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and Countryside Homes.

We are a multi award-winning housebuilder and the Group has again been awarded the 5 Star Rating by the Home Builders Federation following the latest industry’s Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Vistry is committed to encouraging young people into the industry and ensuring we provide a wide variety of trainee, apprenticeships, graduate and continued development opportunities.  Our young people within the industry will be the leaders in the future, therefore this award provides Vistry with an excellent opportunity to recognise excellence in this category.

DHA is the largest independent multi-disciplinary planning consultancy in the South East, offering town planning & development, transport, design, environmental impact, infrastructure and land advice to clients across the UK.

Founded in 1986, DHA has been built on the performance of its expert and highly motivated team, thanks to its investment in staff development and a commitment to delivering high quality support and planning advice.

Website: www.dhaplanning.co.uk

Park Avenue Recruitment work in partnership with local authorities nationwide, finding rewarding roles for Planners looking for contract positions. Each of our consultants has a wealth of knowledge local to your area, will offer career advice and introduce you to contacts who can advance your professional development. Drop the team a message at [email protected] to have a confidential chat about how we could further your career.

Nicholsons is a nature-led landscapes, forestry and ecology company, designing, creating and maintaining beautiful spaces for private, commercial and public sector clients. Our highly skilled teams deliver our services with exceptional quality and continuity, ensuring that every project, from initial planning to final delivery, is seamlessly integrated. With family values at our core, we are dedicated to excellence and sustainability, prioritising our clients’ needs and the health of our planet.

Company details here: Nicholsons | Landscapes, Forestry & Ecosystem Services