Frances Keenan is a Chartered Planner, Planning Manager at Spitfire Homes and the RTPI National and West Midland’s Young Planner of Year 2024.

As my year as National Young Planner of the Year draws to a close, I’m reminded of what I have achieved in the last 12-months but also how far I’ve come since joining the profession as a Graduate Planner back in 2018. This year has proved to me that hard work really does pay off.

I’ve witnessed and been involved in so much planning excellence both locally and internationally its almost too much to list. From visiting Denver, USA in March to hosting and speaking at the National Planning Conference in October. Winning the title is not just about the award on the mantel piece, you become an ambassador for the profession and hopefully I’ve done that job justice. Juggling a full-time career at Spitfire Homes in the wake of the 2024 NPPF changes and being an RTPI ambassador was challenging at times, but the role has taught me self-confidence, resilience, adaptability and given me a work ethic I didn’t know I had.

But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end!

Bart Shirm from Sandwell Council won the title at the National Awards in November 2025 and continues a legacy of successful West Midlands winners.

• Jenna Langford – 2019
• Simeon Shtebunaev- 2022
• Joshua Singh – 2023
• Frances Keenan – 2024
• Bart Shirm – 2025

That is four years of back-to-back wins, an incredible achievement I know all of us are extremely proud of. So what is the magic formular I hear you ask?

The West Midlands offers such a wide variety of planning challenges from the Green Belt, National Landscapes, being part of the Golden Logistics Triangle, National Infrastructure Projects (HS2), City Centre regeneration, new Garden Settlements such as Worcestershire Parkway delivering 10,000 new homes, all whilst balancing a young and ethnically diverse population. As such, it’s a great place for learning and building your knowledge base.

This is supported by two well renowned planning schools: Birmingham City University (BCU) and the University of Birmingham (UOB). I personally studied my master’s degree at BCU but having worked with UOB via my role on the West Midlands Young Planners Committee, I know how passionate and supportive the lecturers and staff are at both, offering students the ability to get out of the classroom and learn direct form industry professionals.

These two key points is what I feel has delivered the National Winners and I’m looking forward to seeing many more to come. Will it be five years in a row…?

But, for now, the Young Planners are in safe hands with Bart leading the way and I’m looking forward to putting my feet up (sort of!) in 2026.