A 10-year plan to regenerate a declining fishing village in Scotland has won the top prize at a prestigious national awards ceremony last night.
The plan for Stromness – which included extensive community input – was awarded the Silver Jubilee Cup, at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2018 held in London last night. It also won in the Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy category.
The Awards for Planning Excellence are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry.
Planners at Orkney Islands Council led a whole-of-council task force to implement the 10-year plan that has transformed the declining town following the community warning Stromness was being ‘left behind’.
Over the past 10 years, the plan has resulted in 12 major projects implemented across the town, including new and upgraded public spaces, new shops and businesses and a new primary school.
The library was not only rebuilt and moved to a new site – in the centre of the town, at the community’s request – to ensure it was accessible to everyone.
A new fishing pier was built with European funding, and new business and industrial spaces were allocated near the pier.
The council have also begun work for a new international research facility and infrastructure for tidal and wave energy generation.
All this were the result of council planners working closely with the community and involving them from the very start, using a ‘blank page approach’ to establish the community’s key priorities.
Using this, a draft plan was drawn up, which was then shaped by community events, meetings and surveys, plus well attended community workshops.
Craig McLaren FRTPI, RTPI Awards Advisor said:
“Stromness has been regenerated over the past 10 years through a comprehensive, plan-led strategy. It was spearheaded by the council’s planners who were key to its success through establishing a vision for the town and ensuring commitment from other players to help deliver it. The dramatic before and after photographs show just how profound the transformation has been. This remarkable ‘place-based’ approach could be used as a blueprint to revive declining towns across the country.”
John Acres MRTPI, RTPI President said:
“Congratulations to all the winners and commended entries. This year’s awards have been a true celebration of planners’ passion for creating prosperous places and vibrant communities. Planners and planning make an important contribution to society and these awards highlight outstanding examples of what can be achieved with vision, leadership and expertise.”
Running for over 40 years, the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society. This year saw a nearly record number of entrants and the judges shortlisted 78 finalists across 13 categories.
Category winners:
Excellence in Plan Making Practice
Winner
Towards a Stamford Hill Plan
Submitted by: London Borough of Hackney
Commended
West of England Partnership
Submitted by: West of England Joint Spatial Plan
Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy
Winner
Stromness Regeneration
Submitted by: Orkney Islands Council
Excellence in Planning for Health and Wellbeing
Winner
Seaham Harbour Marina – Water Sports Activity Centre
Submitted by: Durham County Council
Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture
Winner
Stanton Moor Principles
Submitted by: Peak District National Park Authority
Commended
Depot, Lewes Community Screen
South Downs National Park Authority & Burrell Foley Fischer Architects and Urban Designers
Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment
Winner
Caeau Mynydd Mawr SPG and March Fritillary Project
Submitted by: Camarthenshire County Council
Excellence in Planning to Deliver Homes – large schemes
Winner
Nelson Project
Submitted by: Plymouth City Council
Commended
Bourne Estate Regeneration
Tibbalds and London Borough of Camden
Excellence in Planning to Deliver Homes – small schemes
Winner
Enfield Small Sites
Submitted by: HTA Design LLP
International Award for Planning Excellence
Winner
Economic and Urban Multi-site Development Project
Submitted by: INTA
In-house Planning Team of the Year
Winner
National Grid
Commended
HTA Design LLP
Local Authority Planning Team of the Year
Winner
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Commended
Teignbridge District Council
Small Planning Consultancy of the Year
Winner
Situ8 Planning Consultancy
Commended
NTR Planning
Urban Imprint Ltd
Planning Consultancy of the Year
Winner
Deloitte Real Estate
Commended
Indigo Planning
Young Planner of the Year
Winner
Heather Claridge, Glasgow City Council
Commended
Charlotte Morphet, London Borough of Waltham Forest
Andrew Jones MRTPI, Practice Leader Design, Planning + Economics at AECOM said:
“AECOM is proud to be a headline sponsor once again of the RTPI’s Awards for Planning Excellence. Those recognised tonight illustrate the best of the planning profession and demonstrate the impact we have on quality and delivery in every area of the built environment. On behalf of AECOM I would like to extend our congratulations to all of the commendations and winners.”
David Jackson MRTPI, Head of Planning, Savills said:
“Savills is delighted to be a headline sponsor of the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence. The winners this year reflect the positive impact planning has on our communities across the UK, Ireland and internationally through projects, plans and people. I’d like to congratulate all of those short-listed for awards and the category winners on behalf of the team at Savills.”
The Royal Town Planning Institute champions the power of planning in creating prosperous places and vibrant communities. It represents over 25,000 members worldwide, supporting them throughout their careers. The Institute shapes planning policy, raise professional standards and is the only body in the UK to confer Chartered status to planners, the highest professional qualification.