South West Summer Members Reception & Awards 2025 | The Royal Town Planning Institute

The Summer Reception is an annual celebratory event which has taken place for 4 years now since its successful pilot event back in 2022.

This years event took place on the 11 June at Sandy Park Conference Centre in Exeter and was joined by RTPI President Helen Fadipe and RTPI South West Chair Dawn de Vries.

This multiple celebratory occasion...

Celebrated our new members

We highlighted new Chartered members in the region including new Fellows, Associate and Honorary members and congratulated them on this important and valuable milestone in their career. We recognised the hard work they have all undertaken to gain their Chartered membership. It is a professional qualification to be proud of and the communities in which they serve will benefit from their high standards of practice, wealth of experience and dedication to your profession.

Karin Taylor received her fellowship award

Newly Chartered members

Presented lots of worthy Awards...

We showcased the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2025 finalists in the South West and announced the winners of Best Project, Best Plan, Mid Size Planning Consultancy of the Year, Small Consultancy of the Year, Young Planner of the Year and Best in Region (photo below left of all the award recipients).

North Project Regeneration received the 'Best Project' award and also 'Best in Region'. The entry now goes forward to the National RTPI Awards in November. Read more about all the results here

We’re also recognised educational excellence through our partnerships with UWE and the University of Plymouth. Each year, the region awards prizes to outstanding students. At the event Tristan Otten (below right), who had been selected as the Best Part-Time Student on the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth collected his award and prize.

Tristan Otten - Best Part-Time Student on the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth

Winners of the RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence 2025

The RTPI South West Chairs Award for Unsung Panning Heroes were presented...

Each year the RTPI South West Chair presents a special award during the annual RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence celebration based on their theme for the year.

This year the Chair once again recognised the 'unsung heroes of planning' - those planners that go above and beyond, rarely seeking the limelight and who are the keystone to keeping teams motivated, achieving personal success for themselves, and their organisation. They could have been a role model, a mentor or someone who has delivered a great project.

We were delighted by the range of nominations received from colleagues, Managers, Chief Planners and even clients.

Andrew Marx from Government of Jersey collected the award and shield of honors. Michelle Luscombe of Teighbridge District Council and Tracey Ingle of Government of Jersey also received awards.

All Unsung Planning Hero nominees and recipients

Andrew Marx from Government of Jersey collected the award and shield of honors rom 2024 winner Daniel Tyrrell

Appreciated our RTPI Volunteers...

We took the time to recognise our local RTPI Volunteers. The activities we deliver here in the South West for our 2600 members are as the result of the ideas, enthusiasm and commitment of a range of volunteers to support the delivery activities for members but also raise the profile of planning.

We have over 80 volunteers just helping us here in the region with our activity programme including

The Regional Management Board
Regional Activities Committee
Working Groups – often work towards the delivery of the CPD events.
Judging Panel – on the awards
Young Planners – from what I have seen this includes an array of socials, cpd talks and APC support
And Careers Ambassadors – literally getting in with the Schools, colleges and universities to promote planning to the next generation.

And that doesn’t include all the RTPI volunteers that commit their time to National RTPI standing committees and other volunteer opportunities such as the Board of Trustees, General Assembly, APC Assessing, Planning Aid and much more.tunities are endless and we look forward to working with our volunteers to continue to build on this.

Whilst there are many career and networking benefits of volunteering, it’s also a great opportunity to form fantastic professional contacts, mentors and even friendships. We know that for many that have volunteered with us, it has given them the confidence and experience to take the next vital steps in their career.