Each year the RTPI South West Chair presents their own special award during the annual RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence celebration.

This is a separate regional only award to the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence and this category will judged by the 2026 Regional Chair Harry Quartermain together with the South West Regional Management Board. Winners of this award do not go through the to the National Awards.

This special award is dedicated to recognising planners who make a real difference, whether through:

🏆 Outstanding initiative in getting the job done
💡 Innovative approaches to planning challenges
🤝 Collaboration & leadership in successful projects
🌟 Inspiring mentorship and team motivation 

The 2026 nominations are now open and close on the 27 March. 

If you work with an exceptional planner - whether it is your own team or another organisation - this is your chance to highlight their contribution!

Want to nominate someone? Send your 300 word nomination of why they should be recognised to Charlotte.Daborn@rtpi.org.uk The nominee must be a member of the RTPI in any grade. 

The 2025 results were as follows:

"Winning the Highly Commended Award for Unsung Hero has been a really humbling experience. As a planner, one of my core principles is to ensure that communities are genuinely involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives and the places they live in. To be recognised for leading the Local Plan work in this way reassures me that inclusive, people-centred planning is valued and becoming the ideal that we all should be working towards. I’m very grateful to those who honoured me with this award, but I know it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible team I have around me."

Michelle Luscombe, Teignbridge District Council