The winners of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) World Town Planning Day competition for 2020 have been announced by President Wei Yang FRTPI.
More than 200 entries were received from young people across the UK, the largest number ever.
The aim of the RTPI’s annual competition is to inspire secondary school students to look at the planning issues in their local area and to encourage them to consider town planning as a potential career.
In the lead-up to World Town Planning Day on 8 November 2020, students were asked to pitch a regeneration plan to a local council. Entries needed to set out how the area should change and the issues planners would need to consider for the changes to be implemented effectively, linking, where possible, to the RTPI’s Plan The World We Need campaign.
Entries were reviewed by a judging panel of RTPI members before the winners were chosen by President Wei Yang.
The winner in the 11-15 age group was Anika from Cheltenham Ladies College who considered the rehabilitation of Central Park, in Maharani Bagh, New Delhi. She proposed an upgraded green space promoting interaction between people from different backgrounds, and featuring a jogging track, garden amphitheatre and park pavilion.
Image: Anika's vision for change for Central Park, New Delhi included features to promote physical activity and enviromentally-friendly transport
In the 16-18 age group, top prize went to Jemma and Katherine from Thomas Gainsborough School, Suffolk. They proposed the redevelopment of a brownfield site in Sudbury, Suffolk into a sustainable shopping centre with solar panels and water features producing hydroelectric power.
Wei Yang said: “Many congratulations to the winners of the RTPI World Town Planning Day competition for 2020. The judging panel was bowled over by the quantity and quality of entries this year which made our task of singling out individual entries particularly difficult.
“Some students were as young as 11 years old and their long-term vision and innovative ideas impressed and touched all the judges. We saw a clear demonstration from the students of their belief in planning as a way of making a positive impact on wider social and environmental issues, including tackling inequality and meeting net-zero targets.
“I hope all the young people who entered the competition will continue to think deeply about these issues, and consider being a visionary planner of the future.”
Winning students will receive an Amazon voucher and RTPI certificate. The top students in each age group have also been offered an online skills workshop with a Chartered town planner. The students’ schools also receive an Amazon voucher to buy resources and free RTPI affiliate membership for the students’ teachers.
The Institute has also planted 15 trees, dedicated to the competition winners, in the National Forest.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND COMMENDED ENTRIES
11-15 age group
- Winner – Anika (Cheltenham Ladies College)
- Commended – Yaseen (Derby Moor Academy)
- Commended – Calia (Goffs Academy, Hertfordshire)
16-18 age group
- Winner – Jemma and Katherine (Thomas Gainsborough School, Suffolk)
- Commended – Tristan and Jaime (Haileybury, Hertfordshire)
- Commended – Ayden and Christian (St Marks Catholic School, Hounslow)
>> The RTPI has more information on how to become a planner on its website, as well as town planning resources for teachers
