2021 winners

Entered by: Plymouth City Council

This innovative urban streetscape just keeps giving to its people, providing not just a wonderful environment, but provides future answers to some of the toughest climate change challenges the world faces. The reimagined street which connects Plymouth’s city centre to the sea has transformed what was a dark and narrow back-street into one of the city’s best addresses. In achieving this the city has put planning at the fore and trusted its policies to deliver a holistic set of sustainable and low carbon technologies into a scheme which is a living example of how we approach tomorrow.

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The Judges concluded that the overall Millbay redevelopment is a potentially exemplar scheme that could demonstrate how Plymouth is responding to the challenge of climate change. The Boulevard is virtually complete and, in the Judges view, will be a catalyst for the overall Millbay redevelopment. The Judges decided that the submission should be commended recognising the complex planning input to the design and implementation of the Boulevard.

Entered by: Terence O'Rourke Ltd and The Bournemouth Development Company 

Treetops’ is a sustainable residential development that utilised the planning system to resolve significant constraints and deliver BCP Council’s Bournemouth Town Centre Vision.

The constraints included the adjacency of a Grade I listed church, the setting of two Conservation Areas, TPO trees, a veteran tree and steep topography with failing slopes. A series of planning tools were used to overcome these challenges.

Fully occupied within 12-weeks, the scheme has made a significant contribution to delivering the Town Centre Vision meeting the key objectives of boosting the town centre’s economy, creating attractive spaces, increasing vibrancy and providing high-quality, sustainable new homes.

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Entered by: Torbay Council

Torbay Heritage Strategy is the result of a significant review of heritage in the Bay. It was conducted throughout the course of 2020 and involved extensive consultation and consideration of the changes in local and national plans and policies. The Strategy is rooted in the needs and aspirations of Torbay and its residents. It provides a pathway for Torbay’s fascinating and significant heritage: A chance to be more ambitious about how Torbay’s heritage can be at the heart of the visitor economy, used - and re-used - by local communities, and renewed in a responsible and inclusive way.

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The Judges concluded that this is an innovative example of the planning and heritage/culture professions working together to maintain and enhance the natural and built environment of a major settlement. They were also pleased to receive evidence that the work was already feeding into the up-dating of the Local Plan, complementing the area’s three Neighbourhood Plans and contributing to the up-dating of the Urban Design Guide and Conservation Area Appraisals. Also an important issue is that work so far on the Strategy has raised the profile of heritage both locally in Torbay and externally with bodies such as Historic England.

Entered by: East Devon District Council

The multi-disciplinary team from East Devon District Council have transformed an ambitious green infrastructure policy into practice, giving the fledging Clyst Valley Regional Park wings! Starting small, sharing resources across local authority boundaries, they have now grown into a partnership of seventeen organizations. Their springboard ‘Great Trees’ project won Pride of Devon for its practical engagement of volunteers and focus on wellbeing. With a strong brand, clear vision and action plan, defined in a 25-year masterplan generated through open dialogue, they have demonstrated the impact that planners can have on sustainability. 

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It was evident to the Judges that Planners are leading and working with the local community and other public and private sector bodies, to deliver on the care and maintenance of the Clyst Valley as a valuable asset. ‘Soft engagement’ is going hand in hand with ‘hard’ infrastructure delivery in what East Devon Council sees as ‘planning beyond planning’. The Judges concluded that this is an excellent project; as one of the Judges stated “this is what master planning is for- setting out a framework for action on the ground”

Entered by Sedgemoor District Council

Sedgemoor District Council has worked positively and pro-actively to continue to deliver an outstanding planning service evolving their approach throughout lock down, maintaining collaborative working to enable the progression of significant major development and investing, supporting and developing staff throughout. Planning remains critical in the delivery of development and infrastructure to enable growth and has to serve the needs of the community as a whole. Sedgemoor has sought to be innovative in addressing barriers and building relationships to engage and progress strategic, multi partnership issues whilst engaging through ‘Enabling development’ to challenge norms and realise wider improvements.

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The judges concluded that: there is clear evidence in this Team of a ‘can do’ attitude; an aim for continuous improvement going over and above their mandatory duties; and a willingness to learn from others’ experiences, as well as to generate local improvements. The team’s positive attitude to change is reflected in the realisation that there will soon have to be joint working across the current Somerset Districts following reorganisation in 2023.

Entered by Feria Urbanism

Feria Urbanism is a dynamic, award-winning design studio. We deliver local change by making community aspiration the foundation of our activity. This is enabling and gives people a voice in the design of playful, multifaceted places that enhance local ecologies and community life. We use a range of digital and real life tactics to learn from local knowledge, hopes, and collective dreaming. We have an active interest in playable cities and urban ecology. Feria Urbanism is a small agile team. We love to collaborate and feel comfortable leading projects or working as part of a larger team.

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The Judges concluded that: Feria Urbanism is an impressive, very small consultancy clearly operating as a team, with a ‘people focussed’ approach, effectively using innovative techniques. The strong urban design focus, the links with academia and work/leadership on community engagement are particular features.  

Entered by Savills 

Savills Wimborne Planning combines local expertise and market insight with the multi-disciplinary reach of the wider business. The team places trust and integrity at the heart of everything we do, and this gives our clients, colleagues, suppliers, partners and investors the confidence to work with us. We work on a wide range of schemes locally and across the UK and use our experience to provide creative, flexible solutions to our clients’ projects and foster a positive, innovative culture for clients and staff.

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Frances is an enthusiastic, Senior Planning Policy Officer at Dorset Council who is genuinely passionate about place making. Leading on big issues such as housing, she has presented successfully at a Local Plan examination and strives for social equality. Her innovative thinking resulted in a unique consultation that was inclusive and fully accessible, with huge numbers of visits to the webpages, webinars, podcasts associated with the plan. She passes on her enthusiasm through work experience to large groups of young adults. They learn through doing and as such, she captures their interest in this unique profession.

The Judges said that Frances has great confidence and impressed  them with her grasp of issues facing planning and planning professionals and how she saw a role as being a ‘digital champion’ for Dorset Council. Particularly impressive was her involvement with the Dorset Young Planners network and her work in ‘Speakers for schools’, in which she has been supported by the RTPI nationally. The Judges were clear that Frances is and will continue to be an outstanding ambassador for planning and an inspiration to other young planners”.

Emily is a conscientious young planner who shines as a leader, particularly in her role as the chair of the West of England Young Planners steering group where she leads by example. She is an intelligent and greatly skilled planner which is demonstrated by her recent appointment to Senior Planner at AECOM. She is passionate about the work she produces both within her role and as part of the Young Planners where she has recently been engaging with education institutions and networks to support future young planners. 

 

The Judges concluded that Emily is an impressive young planner actively involved with SW Young Planners and supporting APC Candidates. Emily already is, and will continue to develop, as an excellent ambassador for planning.

Chris has experience in both strategic planning and development management and as such has a great overview of the planning system. He leads on a range of projects at Dorset Council from renewable energy, to housing allocations and new settlements. He is an asset to our team and always helps others. He is calm, always thinking critically and committed to his work.

 

Overall the Judges concluded that Chris is a solid conscientious young planner gradually working up the career ladder. They were impressed with his interest and expertise in streamlining processes through digitalisation especially in the Local Plan consultation process.

This year's Chair's Award champions those projects, plans, people or teams that are clearly demonstrating how planning can have a positive influence on health, wellbeing and/or inclusivity. It is chosen as the discretion of the Chair. 

The 2021 Chair, Angharad Williams said that “The team demonstrated throughout their presentation their sheer commitment to developing relationships within the community and with people of all ages and abilities. The extensive range of projects takes inspiration from an art and design background, involving the community within their work demonstrates their passion for inclusive design on a personal level and their ambitions for creating future dementia friendly design is commended. I am excited to see what future projects are developed and encourage others to continue being passionate about the importance of inclusive design”.

This year's Chair's Award champions those projects, plans, people or teams that are clearly demonstrating how planning can have a positive influence on health, wellbeing and/or inclusivity. It is chosen as the discretion of the Chair. 

She highly commended this entry for their consideration of inclusive design in their fantastic drive to consult with the community and consider the need to widen footpaths and make them accessible for those with wheelchairs and others.