A new local plan for Milton Keynes, providing for thousands of new homes, community facilities and green infrastructure, has won top prize at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) South East Region Awards for Planning Excellence 2019.
RTPI writes:
The judges said that Plan:MK, submitted by Milton Keynes Council and consultants AECOM, had involved a proactive approach to public engagement ensuring that ‘hard to reach groups’ were given maximum opportunity to have their say.
Among the positive outcomes arising from the adoption of Plan:MK were the provision for 31,000 homes over a 15-year period as well as an additional site for the travelling community and a range of unique approaches to supporting the UN Sustainability Goals.
The award was announced last night at a ceremony at the Emirates Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, attended by almost 100 planning professionals from across the South East.
Sue Percy CBE, chair of the judging panel and Chief Executive of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation, said: ‘This is a great example of effective collaboration between public and private planners working together to support the production of Plan:MK. Public engagement was proactive, comprehensive and continuous and the overall approach illustrates planners’ passion for plan making with high levels of technical and soft skills demonstrating excellence in plan making and leading practice.’
The award was presented by RTPI President Ian Tant. He said: ‘This is a great example of collaborative working between the public and private sectors and shows Milton Keynes Council yet again leading the way in planning.’…
Other winners at the RTPI South East Regional Awards:
Category winners
Plan Making Practise – Plan:MK (2016-2031) – Milton Keynes Local Plan and Evidence Base (Milton Keynes Council and AECOM)
Natural Environment – South Downs Local Plan (South Downs National Park Authority)
Heritage and Culture – A Heritage Strategy for Canterbury District (Canterbury City Council)
Young Planner – Laura Archer
Commendations
Plan Making Practise – Warnham Neighbourhood Plan (Horsham District Council and Warnham Parish Council)
Successful Economy – Perch @ Eco Business Centre, Elmsbook, Bicester (Cherwell District Council)
Tech within Planning – Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge Corridor Future Planning Options for the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) (5th Studio)
Health and Wellbeing – Heatherwood Hospital Redevelopment (Vail Williams LLP)
Natural Environment – Lewes Neighbourhood Plan – Pioneering An Ecosystem Approach To Neighbourhood Planning (Lewes Town Council, South Downs National Park Authority, Feria Urbanism, Lewes Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and many local community groups and representatives)
Young Planner – Zahra Waters
Young Planner- Rebecca Bacon
