A pioneering low-carbon housing development in the heart of Leeds has scooped top prize at this year’s prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Yorkshire Awards for Planning Excellence.
Climate Innovation District in Leeds City Centre, entered by property developer Citu, is the first of its kind in the UK and won the award during an online ceremony premiered on YouTube on 17 November.
The development features more than 500 low-carbon homes plus leisure facilities, offices, a primary school, care home and green spaces. First residents moved in to the development in early 2019.
Chair of RTPI Yorkshire’s judging panel Jennifer Winyard MRTPI said: “This £250 million car-free development contains some of the most airtight and energy-efficient homes in the world. It is an excellent scheme, which demonstrates true sustainability principles. The project is superb from a planning perspective and is transferable across the UK and throughout the world.”
Other winners at the Yorkshire ceremony, which received the highest number of entries in all of the RTPI’s English regions, included Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, highly commended for its Glass Works Phase 1 project. Glass Works Phase 1 is Barnsley’s new retail and leisure destination located in the heart of the Metropolitan centre. RTPI Yorkshire judges praised the council for its extensive consultation with key stakeholders and the local community.
Commended entries at this year’s awards included Garnett Wharfe, submitted by Barratt and David Wilson Homes, a development featuring 194 homes which has transformed a derelict paper mill site in the historic market town of Otley near Leeds.
The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre entered by Hull City Council was also commended for transforming a brownfield site into a fully integrated healthcare centre and accommodation for older people.
The final commended winning scheme went to Sheffield City Council for the Charter Square (Heart of City 2) project. Charter Square is the latest phase of the Heart of the City programme, a series of public realm and development projects which aim to transform the centre of Sheffield.
The overall winner of the 2020 Yorkshire awards is automatically shortlisted for the prestigious national 2021 RTPI Awards in London.
