Awards

The RTPI South East Awards for Planning Excellence celebrate projects and people who have helped create exceptional places and improved the lives of those who live and work there; highlighting how planning and planners work to create a safe, healthy and sustainable future.

Winning these prestigious awards is a clear demonstration of quality, and an excellent way to raise the profile of a project, team or individual.

We are delighted to announce that this year's Regional winner is Campbell Wharf, Milton Keynes submitted by Bidwells. See our winning schemes below.

Sue Percy CBE, Chair of RTPI South East judging panel, said: “The project represents a real planning success story. The project demonstrates excellence in land use planning, regeneration, sustainable transport and a wonderfully designed piece of civil engineering as a centrepiece. The planning team managed to overcome viability issues and have delivered a project that not only regenerated the site, but will hopefully trigger improvements to the wider area to the benefit of current and future residents and visitors.”

The Young Planner of the Year 2020 has been awarded to Daniel Young, Senior Planning (Policy) Officer, Portsmouth City Council.

"Daniel’s enthusiastic commitment to helping to address climate change and delivering improvements through policy based on his national and international research impressed the judges. They wish him every success in taking these forward and feel he has a bright future ahead of him in Town Planning."

You can also watch our virtual awards ceremony on YouTube that took place on 16 November.

The RTPI SE Awards for Planning Excellence 2020 are sponsored by Francis Taylor Building

As a specialist planning set of chambers’, Francis Taylor Building is delighted to sponsor the RTPI SE Awards which recognises excellence in planning and celebrates the professionals who help to deliver exceptional projects which help to improve the quality of lives of citizens and to create a more sustainable future.

Below are the 2020 shortlisted entries

Campbell Wharf, Milton Keynes

Campbell Wharf has transformed an underwhelming canalside location into a vibrant and unique development. The scheme includes 383 new homes, a nursery, a pub, retail and commercial units, public open spaces and a short-stay marina. Extensive pre-application engagement and partnership working was involved with this scheme, with all development partners supporting the final proposal and 86% public support for the overall scheme at a public exhibition event. This site has created an impetus for growth, and improved the viability, of surrounding undeveloped land and the scheme has also unlocked the start of the new Bedford to Milton Keynes Waterway.

Planning Partner at Bidwells Mike Jones MRTPI said: "It is fantastic that this scheme has the recognition it deserves as a truly mixed-use development of the highest quality. This is a testament to the success of local engagement and partnership working between the project team and Milton Keynes Development Partnership. It was particularly pleasing to hear that the judges acknowledged the enhancement of the wider setting, establishing a benchmark for future development along the canalside."
Romsey Town Centre draft Masterplan

The master plan process has allowed the Romsey Future Partnership to lead the redevelopment of the area south of Romsey Town Centre; through the appointment of Masterplanners Nexus Planning and Perkins +Will. The area, which is predominantly controlled by Test Valley Borough Council contains the town’s bus station, public conveniences, car parking and Crosfield Hall. A comprehensive public consultation process which included one of only three trial citizens’ assemblies to take place in England has directed the Masterplan towards a vision of delivering a sustainable future for the people of Romsey, including improved public transport, public realm and community facilities.
Land at Blue Mountain, Binfield, Berkshire

Land at Blue Mountain, Binfield has delivered 403 homes, including 100 affordable homes,a Learning Village (for pupils age 3-18 including special educational needs and disabilities provision), sports facilities and pitches (which can be used by the community), 12 hectares of parkland, allotments and a leisure golf facility providing; adventure golf, a 9 hole course, driving range and a café all open to the public. There is also provision for a future Community Centre. The developers worked collaboratively with the Council to deliver the much needed homes and educational facility.
Daniel Young MRTPI is a Senior Planning (Policy) Officer, Portsmouth City Council. Daniel undertook his MSc in Planning at Plymouth University. His master’s dissertation was published in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. He went on to present this at RTPI and Research conferences and at lunchtime learning seminars.

Daniel has worked for Portsmouth City Council three years. He is now a senior planner and recently secured his chartered status with the RTPI. His work focuses on formulating policies for the Local Plan, centered on the topic areas relating to climate change, green infrastructure, flooding open space, health and well-being. His role involves engagement with wider stakeholders, businesses, residents and agencies. Daniel sits as an advisor on the city’s newly formed climate board.

He recently worked to pull together a multi-departmental greening strategy for the Council which aimed to deliver more immediate greening across Portsmouth. This was enacted through the planting of new trees across a number of parks, conducting a city-wide canopy cover analysis to identify areas of most need for new trees.

Daniel was on the organising committee for the RTPI South West Young Planners and represented the Portsmouth City Council at the Young Local Authority of the year annual competition.

Daniel said "It's a great honour to receive this award. I truly believe that planners have a vital role to play in creating healthy, sustainable places for all and I will continue to champion the benefits that our profession can bring to addressing the challenges we face today and in the future".
Beth Watts is an Associate Planner with Bloomfields, an independent practice based in Kent, where she has worked since 2015. Beth has become a specialist in rural planning matters, representing agricultural business and rural communities providing a

strong, yet respectful voice for the rural sector in the planning process. Her projects include a range of applications including permitted development rights to ensure the economic viability of farms, irrigation, poly tunnels and her current project which will see renewable energy sources used to grow fruit.

Beth’s nomination highlights an impressive track record within the rural sector. She appears keen to learn from those around her to continue to develop her knowledge and skills, including mentoring planning graduates.

The Judges noted that rural issues are often not well understood in mainstream planning practice, leading this vital area of planning to be filled by other related professions. We wish her every success for the future