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South East Awards for Planning Excellence

Celebrating Planning Excellence

The RTPI South East Awards for Planning Excellence 2026 continue to recognise and highlight the positive contribution planning professionals make in the communities we serve around the world.

Congratulations to the South East Awards for Planning Excellence winners 2026 who were announced at the Awards Dinner on 9 July 2026, at Southhampton.

Winners:

  • Best in Region and Best Project: Reawakening the Maison Dieu submitted by Dover District Council
  • Best Homes and Communities: Staner Court submitted by Thanet District Council
  • Mid-size Planning Consultancy of the Year: Arrow Planning
  • Small Planning Consultancy of the Year: WWA
  • Planning Authority of the Year: Dover District Council
  • Young Planner of the Year: Benjamin Hindle, Vistry Group
  • Regional Chair's award: Teynham Parochial CofE Primary School submitted by Bailey Partnership

Commendations:

Best Projects:

  • YASA Headquarters, Bicester Motion submitted  by Edgars Limited
  • Stone Recreation Ground,  submitted by Graham Simpkin Planning (GSP) and Stone Parish Council (SPC), 
  • Brighton Youth Centre submitted by Lewis and Co Planning


Homes and Communities category:

  • Kingston Wharf submitted by Lewis and Co Planning SE Ltd
  • Coronation Place, Uckfield, Wealden District Council submitted by Wealden District Council

Young Planner of the Year category:

  • Toby Deacon, Lewis and Co Planning

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. 

High scoring shortlisted project and housing entries* from the regions and nations are also put through for judging in the national awards and will be judged against the other projects and housing entries in their selected categories for the national finalist list. The remaining four direct to national categories** are also judged to complete the national finalist list of 16 categories. 

The national finalists will be revealed on 7 October and the winners will be announced and celebrated on 3 December 2026. Details will be published here

*Project categories:

•    Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy 
•    Excellence in Planning for Wellbeing and Education 
•    Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture 
•    Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment 

Homes categories:

•    Excellence in Planning for Homes and Communities (small schemes under 50 homes)
•    Excellence in Planning for Homes and Communities (mid-sized schemes 50-250 homes)
•    Excellence in Planning for Homes and Communities (large schemes over 250 homes)

**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.

Thank you to our sponsors 

Thank you to our sponsors for their continued support.

  • Headline and ceremony sponsor: Stantec
  • Category sponsors: Nicholsons, Vistry and Carrington West


For more information

If you have any questions, please visit the awards hub or contact Susan Millington, South East Regional Manager. 

Mid-size Planning Consultancy of the Year 2026
Small Planning Consultancy of the Year 2026
Local Planning Authority of the Year 2026
Headline sponsor

Thank you to our sponsors for their continued support

Headline sponsor
Stantec
Category Sponsor
Nicholsons
Best Project category
Carrington West
Planning Authority of the Year
Vistry
Young Planner of the Year