A community led scheme to regenerate Central Govan wins the UK and Ireland’s premier planning award

A ten year, community led, planning partnership and investment framework, guiding the physical regeneration of Central Govan, has won the Silver Jubilee Cup, the UK and Ireland’s premier planning award. The Central Govan Action Plan was announced as the winner today (Monday 23rd June), at an awards ceremony held at The Shaw Theatre in the Pullman London St Pancras.

The Silver Jubilee Cup is awarded to the overall winner of The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence. The Central Govan Action Plan was also winner of the category, ‘Leading the way in planning for the community’.

Submitted by Glasgow City Council, the action plan has invested £88m into transforming Central Govan not just physically but also by raising the quality of life and instilling a sense of positive and lasting change into a community that has been in decline for the last 60 years.

Sir Terry Farrell CBE and Chair of Judges, said: “Community led and hard won, I applaud the passion and energy that has sustained the Central Govan Action Plan through the last 10 years. Overcoming tough urban issues typical of our post-industrial cities, the action plan has genuinely brought together a community to create, realise and sustain many physical, social and economic projects, bringing real and noticeable benefit to Govan. This is true pro-active and ‘bottom up’ planning in a robust environment, and a worthy winner of the Silver Jubilee prize.”

Cath Ranson, RTPI President, said:

“The planned regeneration of the Central Govan is a great example of how community –led planning can change the lives of people living in that community. With planning and planners at the very heart of the regeneration process of Central Govan, the action plan has brought together different sectors to respond to local needs while at the same time engendering a sense of ownership, confidence and pride in the local community.

“I would like to congratulate all of our category winner and shortlisted candidates who entered the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence. In this the RTPI’s centenary year I am delighted we are able to celebrate the contribution that planners and planning make to society, to the economy and to the environment, and highlight through these awards truly exceptional examples of planning.”

Jubilee Cup Winner 2014 – overall winner of the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence

Winner
Central Govan Action Plan (including Govan Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative) submitted by Glasgow City Council

Outstanding planning to deliver growth & employment

Winner
London Gateway Logistics Park Local Development Order by Thurrock Council

Commended
Creating space to work by Leicester City Council

Leading the way in planning for community

Winner
Central Govan Action Plan (including Govan Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative) submitted by Glasgow City Council

Excellence in planning and design for the public realm

Winner
Marine Walk and Seaburn Promenade by Sunderland City Council

Best planning for natural and built heritage

Winner
Stonehenge Environmental Improvement project submitted by Chris Blandford Associates

Exemplary planning to deliver housing

Winner
Regeneration of Hudson and Manser Streets, St Pauls (Cheltenham) submitted by Nash Partnership

Innovative planning practice in plan making

Winner
Delivering a new strategic planning and investment framework for Coastal West Sussex and Great Brighton submitted by Coastal West Sussex and Greater Brighton Strategic Planning Board

Innovative planning practice in decision taking

Winner
Stirling Ecosystems Approach Demonstration Project submitted by LUC

Planning Consultancy of the Year

Winner
Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners

Small Planning Consultancy of the Year

Winner
NTR Planning Ltd

Local Authority Planning Team of the Year

Winner
Sandwell MBC

Commended
London Borough of Hammersmith and FulhamYoung Planner of the Year Award

Young Planner of the Year Award

Winner
Zoë Green, Senior Planning Consultant, Atkins

Commended
David Kelly, Acting Principal Planning Officer, Bromsgrove District Council