Southend planners again RTPI 2016 Awards Logo Finnamed among Britain’s best!

February 9, 2016 by Southend Borough Council

Southend planners again RTPI 2016 Awards Logo Finnamed among Britain’s best!

Tuesday 9th February 2016

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s award-winning planning team remains at the top of its game.

It has just been shortlisted for another prestigious planning title.

The team is in the final six battling to be named Local Authority Planning Team of the Year in the 2016 Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Barbican, London in May.

This follows on from successes in 2014 and 2015 when the planning team also won national awards.

For the latest accolade, the Council’s planners fought off hot competition to again leap to the attention of national judges and be picked for the final selection.

Judges have homed in on the team’s high level of performance, the outcomes in successfully delivering major projects and managing to keep offering good value for money.

The Council’s Head of Planning, Peter Geraghty said: “This excellent result shows that our terrific team has kept up its award-winning standards to continue to be recognised as Britain’s best.

“It is a spectacular achievement to be able to remain in the national forefront, despite the tough financial climate, and fast-changing planning policies.

“I am delighted that our planning team has been shortlisted. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of a talented group of professional planners at Southend.”

Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Regulatory Services, Councillor David Norman said: “Our planning team deserves huge congratulations for again taking a well-earned place in the national spotlight.

“These highly capable staff members manage to consistently deliver, often in difficult circumstances.

“Councillors rely on sound advice from planners in order to ensure we can make the right decisions for the future prosperity of the town.

“This shortlisting demonstrates that the advice and guidance our officers give to councillors continues to be the best in its class, at a time when we make crucial decisions about the town’s regeneration.”

The RTPI represents 23,000 planning professionals worldwide and promotes spatial planning, shapes policy and raises professional standards. The Awards for Planning Excellence have been run by the RTPI for over 30 years to recognise planning excellence.

Finalists have been recognised for their national contribution to planning and demonstrate how significant schemes can be delivered speedily through the planning and other consents systems.

Phil Williams, President of the Royal Town Planning Institute said: “The finalists highlight outstanding examples of planning that have made a positive impact on the local community and environment. The judges will find it difficult separating the finalists and choosing winners given the high calibre of entries this year.”

For more information about the Royal Town Planning Institute, please contact: Josh Rule on 0207 929 8182 or: Joshua.Rule@rtpi.org.uk