23 Jun Winners announced for East of England planning awards
Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge and Watford Local Plan have been unveiled as this year’s overall winners at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) East of England Awards for Planning Excellence 2023.
Watford Local Plan 2021-2038: A Sustainable Town was awarded Best Plan for its nomination by Watford Borough Council, impressed judges both with its focus on climate action and sustainable development and with the teams’ collaborative approach o the local community.
Judges commented: “In a context, nationally and regionally, in which local authorities are struggling to get local plans adopted to their required timescales, the existence of the adopted Watford Local Plan represents success in itself! The best practice the plan production team showed in attempting to reach a wider audience through digital means is also noteworthy”.
Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, nominated by Bidwellls, scooped the prestigious Best Project Award for its new, future-proof building, which was designed to facilitate integration across its increasingly diverse student body and foster an engaged, inclusive, and welcoming community.
Judges commented: “It is a testament to the strength of the partnership between the College and the local planning authority, fostered by Bidwells, that the upgraded student rooms, café, dining, and social teaching space have been completed. It is impressive that the new accommodation is accessible for wheelchair users, achieves Passivhaus certification, and honours the tradition of Lucy Cavendish College to promote university participation from students of non-traditional and underrepresented backgrounds.”
Other winners on the night include Bethany Rance of East Suffolk Council, who won the prize for Young Planner of the Year, Central Bedfordshire Council won Planning Authority of the Year and DAC Planning, who won Small Planning Consultancy of the Year.
