West Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence

Celebrating Planning Excellence

The West Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence continue to recognise and highlight the positive contribution planning professionals make in the communities we serve around the world.

Congratulations to the West Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence winners 2025 who were announced at the West Midlands Summer Ball and Awards on Friday 27th June at Millennium Point.

Best Plan – Lichfield District Design Code and Birmingham Road Design Code submitted by Lichfield District Council

Best Project – Assessment of Air Quality Impacts on European Sites in Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley submitted by South Staffordshire Council, Lichfield District Council, Cannock Chase District Council, Stafford Borough Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council. Wolverhampton City Council, Dudley Council, Walsall Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council & Natural England

Planning Authority of the Year – Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Council

Small Planning Consultancy of the Year – LWM Planning

Young Planner of the Year – Bart Shirm

Chair’s Award – University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University

A stepping stone to our national celebration

These winners become national finalists except for Young Planner of the Year who will be judged by the national judges in September. The top five will become Young Planner of the Year national finalists. 

All the shortlisted entries from the project categories* will be judged for the national finalist list. The remaining four direct to national categories** are also judged to complete the national finalist list of a total of 15 categories.

The national finalists will be announced on 9 October. The winners will be announced and celebrated on 27 November 2025 in London at the national ceremony. Details will be announced here.

*Project categories:

Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy

Excellence in Planning for Health and Wellbeing

Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture

Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment

Excellence in Planning for Communities (small schemes under 50 homes)

Excellence in Planning for Communities (large schemes of 50 homes or more)

**Direct to national categories:

Excellence in Digital Planning Practice

International Award for Planning Excellence

In-house Planning Team of the Year

Planning Consultancy of the Year

Thank you to the judges

Thank you to our judges for generously volunteering their time, dedication, and expertise to the judging process, including participating in interviews and site visits. Your commitment and support are truly appreciated.