National categories 

Entries into these categories will be judged by a national judging panel. Finalists will be announced in early October. Winners of each category will be announced at the national awards ceremony in November 2024.

If the category you wish to enter does not appear on this list then please enter through the relevant region or nation.

*All Young Planner of the Year winners will be entered into the national shortlist and will be judged by the national judges and the top five will become national finalists.

This category recognises any projects that has used a new type of digital solution or used a digital solution in a new or innovative way. We are looking for innovation in the use of technology and where this has been crucial to the planning outcome.

Eligibility

Projects completed in the two years prior to 1 January 2024 are eligible for entry, even if the planning component was completed years prior. Particular care should be taken to avoid entering schemes prematurely before they can be satisfactorily assessed. We recommend projects are completed or sufficiently completed, in order to be assessed fully against all the judging criteria and other submissions. You may enter a project into more than one category, but we do ask that you provide an entry form for each category. Projects or work that has previously won an RTPI Award for Planning Excellence may not be re-entered in the same category, but those shortlisted or commended may be re-entered.
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Excellence in Digital Planning Practice

Award Criteria

You will need to critically evaluate the work carried out and must demonstrate the strengths of your project. Please highlight the specific issue and how the digital solution solved it. Highlight any difficulties and constraints planners had to overcome. It is crucial you demonstrate throughout the submission the digital planning value the project has.

Project Background

Context and brief timeline (including phases in delivering the plan, or the specific aspect of the project which is being entered e.g. the engagement process).

Outcomes for people and communities:

Please include at least one example which covers one or more of the questions below. How has the new digital solution:

  • Made a positive impact on the planning service or provided a digital solution to a planning problem?
  • Made improvements for specific groups e.g. people with physical disabilities, neurodiverse factors, families, young people, Black, South and East Asian and ethnic minority communities?
  • Made a positive impact on health and wellbeing e.g. solved problems/challenges with access to open space?
  • Addressed issues of gender inequality, language or neurodiverse factors?

Outcomes for climate action:

  • Please provide evidence of successful action taken in delivering the project to build resilience and mitigate against climate change e.g. carbon footprint of delivery, improving data to promote better climate action decisions.
  • Please provide evidence of successful post-completion action e.g. how the scheme uses energy efficiency and other ways to deliver net zero emissions and limit global warming to 1.5%.
  • What targets did the scheme have for climate change and have those been met or exceeded?

Outcomes for sustainable development:

How does the project meet UN Sustainable Development Goals ?

Planning contribution:

Explain how planners have provided strong and effective leadership and vision in the design and / or implementation of the project

Community engagement:

  • Please outline how the project has: Provided positive and constructive engagement and dialogue with stakeholders, local people and businesses and how that dialogue directly influenced the scheme.
  • Please make sure to let us know how inclusive this engagement was. Were there any groups that did participate? Did you have particular success with a group that might ordinarily not have participated? If so which group and what was your process of engagement? Were there outcomes of the digital solution you implemented?

Leading practice:

Describe the complexity of the brief and the creative and innovative ways that you responded to it. We particularly want to hear more about, process, actions, approaches and new ways of working that could inform good practice across the profession. Please tell us if the scheme completed on time, we appreciate that on complex projects sometimes things happen beyond our control, which can impact timetable, so if your project did not complete on time please tell us why.

This category invites submissions from outside the British Isles. The project or plan can fit into any of the other project categories, but if outside the British Isles it must be submitted in this category.

Eligibility

Projects or plans completed in the two years prior to 1 January 2024 are eligible for entry, even if the planning component was completed years prior. Particular care should be taken to avoid entering schemes prematurely before they can be satisfactorily assessed. We recommend projects are completed or sufficiently completed, in order to be assessed fully against all the judging criteria and other submissions.
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International Award for Planning Excellence

Award Criteria

You will need to critically evaluate the work carried out and must demonstrate the strengths of your project or plan. Please highlight the specific role planning has played in the project and highlight any difficulties and constraints planners had to overcome. It is crucial you demonstrate throughout the submission the planning value the project has.

Project Background

Context and brief timeline (including phases in delivering the plan, or the specific aspect of the project which is being entered e.g. the engagement process).

Outcomes for people and communities:

Please include at least one example which covers one or more of the questions below. How has project or plan:

  • Made a positive impact on the local economy and its contributions to promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.?
  • Made improvements for specific groups e.g. people with physical disabilities, neurodiverse factors, families, young people and ethnic minority communities?
  • Made a positive impact on health and wellbeing e.g. solved problems/challenges with access to open space?
  • Addressed issues of gender and inequality e.g. safety in public realm? 
  • Addressed issues of gender and inequality e.g. safety in public realm?
  • Addressed issues of inequality, language or neurodiverse factors?

Outcomes for climate action:

  • Please provide evidence of successful post-completion action e.g. how the scheme uses energy efficiency and other ways to deliver net zero emissions and limit global warming to 1.5%.
  • Please provide evidence of successful action taken in delivering the project to build resilience and mitigate against climate change e.g. carbon footprint of delivery, offsetting, waste disposal, material selection, biodiversity enhancement.
  • What targets did the scheme have for climate change and have those been met or exceeded?

Outcomes for sustainable development:

How does the project meet UN Sustainable Development Goals?

Planning contribution:

  • Providing strong and effective leadership and vision
  • Whilst working in partnership with others, how was knowledge exchanged and what was learnt? What (if any) engagement was there with the local planning profession?
  • Managing implementation and delivery

Community engagement:

Please outline how the project has: Provided positive and constructive engagement and dialogue with local people and businesses and how that dialogue directly influenced the scheme.

Please make sure to let us know how inclusive this engagement was. Were there any groups that did participate? Did you have particular success with a group that might ordinarily not have participated? If so which group and what was your process of engagement?

Leading practice:

Describe the complexity of the brief and the creative and innovative ways that you responded to it. We particularly want to hear more about, process, actions, approaches and new ways of working that could inform good practice across the profession. Please tell us if the scheme completed on time, we appreciate that on complex projects sometimes things happen beyond our control, which can impact timetable, so if your project did not complete on time please tell us why.

This award is open for nominations of a member of the Institute who plays a senior role in their organisation in being the responsible officer for the organisation’s planning service.

Eligibility

Can be based in the UK or overseas and working in the public, private or third sector. Entries must include two supporting statements from either work colleagues, project partners, external stakeholders, communities or politicians.

Reminder

Please inform the person you are nominating once you have submitted the entry.
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Inspirational Leader of the Year

Entrants must be able to demonstrate leadership in:

  • Climate action and addressing the biodiversity emergency
  • Influencing their organisation in the development, promotion and implementation of the corporate policies and initiatives
  • Championing quality placemaking across the organisation resulting in quality outcomes
  • Developing and maintaining effective and productive relationships with stakeholders, including communities and elected members
  • Embedding continuous improvement to ensure effective and efficient management of planning services
  • Demonstrable attitude for embedding EDI commitments into their work


Judging Guideline

A person holding a senior who has demonstrated leadership, high levels of service, commitment to sustainable development and support for the planning profession. In 2024, we are particularly focusing on someone who has delivered on climate action and addressing the biodiversity emergency.

The extent to which they serve as a role model for other young professionals.

This award recognises the achievements of planning teams working in-house within organisations whose primary function isn't planning or built environment consultancy. This may include third sector, charities, government departments, developers, commercial organisations, leisure providers and charities. The team must include at least one Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI or FRTPI).

Eligibility

The team must include at least one Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI or FRTPI). They should demonstrate high levels of service, commitment to sustainable development and support for the planning profession.

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In-house Planning Team of the Year

Award Criteria

This award recognises the achievements of planning teams working in-house within organisations whose primary function isn't planning or built environment consultancy, such as; third sector, charities, government departments, developers, commercial organisations, leisure providers and charities. The team must include at least one Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI or FRTPI).

What Your Team has achieved/ High Level of Service

In this section we want to learn more about the service that your team has provided, the project(s) that have been undertaken, challenges faced, ability to work in challenging or complex stakeholder environments and ultimately how happy/satisfied Client/applicant/partners were with the level of service.

  1. Development and application of imaginative approaches and techniques to achieve high quality planning solutions.
  2. Client/applicant/partners satisfaction with the service provided.
  3. Ability of planners to manage multi-disciplinary projects or to work within a multi-disciplinary environment
  4. A demonstrable commitment to EDI sits at the heart of our definition of a high level service.
  5. Commitment to staff development, business improvements and active participation in professional and educational activities.
  6. Why should your team win this award?

This award recognises the achievements of planning consultancies with over eight Chartered Town Planners (MRTPI or FRTPI). They should demonstrate high levels of service, commitment to sustainable development and support for the planning profession.
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Planning Consultancy of the Year

Award Criteria

For this award we are looking to learn about the service that your team has provided, the project(s) that have been undertaken, challenges faced, ability to work in challenging or complex stakeholder environments and ultimately how happy/satisfied client/applicants/partners were with the level of service.

What Your Team has achieved/ High Level of Service

  1. Development and application of imaginative approaches and techniques to achieve high quality planning solutions.
  2. Client/applicant/partners satisfaction with the service provided.
  3. Ability of planners to manage multi-disciplinary projects or to work within a multi-disciplinary environment
  4. A demonstrable commitment to EDI sits at the heart of our definition of a high level service.
  5. Commitment to staff development, business improvements and active participation in professional and educational activities.
  6. Why should your team win this award?