Awards for Planning Excellence

Southwater Neighbourhood Plan, entered by Squires Planning Ltd

Southwater have taken neighbourhood planning to heart. A team of interested local people have, with consultant support, prepared a development strategy for their community that not only takes local and national requirements into account but will also deliver meaningful benefits for local people. The community wanted to maintain a single centre settlement, the plan not only achieves this but also allocates land for 450 homes set amongst 8ha of public open space, introduces tree planting requirements, identifies Parish Heritage Assets and Local Green Spaces, and much much more. What's more, it received 2,440 (82.5%) yes votes at referendum.

Winchester City Council Local Plan Consultation entered by Winchester City Council

The approach towards community engagement on a Local Plan that took place during a national lockdown demonstrates how technology can be used in a positive way to engage with a range of audiences across different age groups. The Strategic Planning team used a variety of techniques including the opportunity to participate in several interactive events rather than Officers just presenting information. The new Local Plan website is designed to be easy to read, visually interesting and appeal to all especially a younger audience. The outcome of the consultation has been extremely positive and inclusive

Local Plan and CIL Economic Viability Assessment, entered by Aspinall Verdi - Property Regeneration Consultants

AspinallVerdi provided economic viability advice for South Oxfordshire DC on the new Local Plan. AspinallVerdi provided innovative site promotor engagement appraising a long-list of potential strategic allocations. Land owners and site promotors were challanged to provide transparency of benchmark land value (BLV) and any guaranteed minimum values before site allocations. This led to strategic site promotors providing transparency around BLVs – ‘actual’ minimum land values – stress-testing the consequences of strategic infrastructure cost. This led to the inclusion of Paragraph 014 in the the PPG - enabling other Authorities to gain gain greater confidence about delivery - not just viability.

Earth Trust: Earth Lab entered by Earth Trust

Earth Trust is an environmental learning charity championing accessible green spaces for all. They care for diverse green spaces of different sizes; smaller wildlife havens and iconic landscapes including over 1,200 acres of farmland, wetland, woodland and five community reserves. Their mission is to give people access to and experience of the environment through natural green spaces and together understand what we can do to care for the planet. Earth Lab brings their engagement vision to life; it is a demonstration of how we can inspire people to think about how their decisions could better protect the environment.

DHA Planning team

DHA has grown to be the largest independent multi-disciplinary planning consultancy in the South East, offering town planning & development, transport, design, environmental impact, infrastructure and land advice and support 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.

DHA recognises its role in supporting the economic development of the area it serves and is an active member of those organisations and partnership responsible for driving growth and employment.

Bloomfields

Bloomfields is an independent firm of Chartered Town Planners providing planning and development consultancy services. In 2013 the practice merged with Lambert & Foster to build upon the reputation of both companies and to expand their level of services. However, the practice maintains its ethos of personally managing each individual case. Bloomfields’ philosophy is to provide honest, clear and sound planning advice with the highest standard of professional integrity.

Chloe Duggan, Stantec

Chloe Duggan is a planning consultant currently working for Stantec UK delivering a range of strategic, high profile infrastructure projects across the UK. Having started her career in transport planning, Chloe made the move into town planning two years ago with clear enthusiasm and commitment to the sustainable delivery of major projects and the positive engagement of communities as part of the infrastructure planning process . Chloe is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in planning, and planning as a career path for young people, playing an active role in Stantec's multidisciplinary Developing Professionals Group and Women in Planning.

Joshua Mellor Barton Willmore

In his role as Planning Associate at Barton Willmore, Joshua leads on a variety of major development schemes across the South-East, using his passion for planning as a tool to improve the quality of places in which people live, work and play, the quality of the natural environment, and securing betterment for climate change and health and wellbeing. Joshua strives to meet and exceed the expectations of others, formulating and delivering planning strategies for clients across a variety of sectors, whilst ensuring the next generation of planners are well equipped to continue achieving outstanding results and planning excellence.

Zoe Knott, Nexus Planning

Zoe Knott is an Associate Planner with passion and drive for promoting planning and sustainable placemaking, currently working at Nexus Planning in Reading with a focus on residential development.

She leads on a number of large-scale residential developments, often also leading the EIA. She is an excellent team worker, and cares about the progression of those around her and promoting the profession. Zoe is former chair of Surrey Young Planners and has taken an active role in diversity and inclusion at Nexus Planning as well as recruiting Planning Apprentices.

Theme: Celebrating Innovation

This year’s Chair's Award will recognise planning teams, organisations or individuals who have been innovative during the Covid 19 pandemic to deliver tasks/projects to the highest standards and continued to engage with local communities.

Eligibility

The Chair's Award is a discretional Award chosen by the Regional Chair and agreed with the Regional Judges. The Award may be given to a person, team, department, authority or planning practice which has stood out that year. No application is required.