RTPI Planning Awards
Entry Deadline: Monday 30th March, 2009
To merit a national award, entries must demonstrate outstanding achievement judged to have advanced significantly the science and art of town planning for the benefit of the community, or to provide an outstanding example of the beneficial impact of positive planning.
In evaluating such achievements the following aspects, as appropriate, will be taken into account and should be specifically addressed in your entry submission:
1) Enhancement of the physical environment leading to recognisable social and economic benefit in terms of human happiness, greater safety and greater efficiency
2) How the scheme has addressed all aspects of sustainable development
3) Originality of the achievement or approach
4) The key issues and problems that needed to be overcome
5) Quality of the professional work involved in project design, the development of planning concepts and the application of planning techniques
6) Extent to which the achievement may serve as a model for work elsewhere or as a basis for the development of further related schemes
7) The role played by the planner working in partnership with other agencies
All types of planning activities are eligible, including plans, processes, projects or completed schemes. However one of the tests of plans such as master plans is their capability of implementation. It is appropriate that plans of this kind are entered when there is evidence of their success on the ground. The scale of the project is not necessarily relevant to the evaluation of the achievement.
Awards may be made to local authorities, consultants, community groups, developers, public agencies, partnerships or other teams judged to merit such recognition.
JUDGING
The Awards are judged by a panel of widely experienced planning practitioners nominated by the President of the Institute. Judging takes place in the following sequence:
STAGE 1: The judging panel will consider the project summary. The judges will be strongly influenced by this summary and the impact it makes will be of importance if entries are not to be eliminated at this stage. They will also look at any additional material, although this should be kept as brief as possible;
STAGE 2: The judges will select entries for a series of site visits or presentations which will take place between June and September 2009;
STAGE 3: In October 2009, the shortlisted entries will be contacted for further illustrative material to be featured in Planning and for the Awards presentation on February 4th.
STAGE 4: The winners will be announced at a high-profile Awards presentation which will take place in London in January or February 2010;
Regional Awards have a separate judging process. Please refer to your region for details (www.rtpi.org.uk).
The decision of the judges on any matter relating to the Awards will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into on their decision.
