Carmarthenshire butterfly conservation project shortlisted for top UK award

A project to protect the marsh fritillary butterfly in Carmarthenshire is one of four finalists in Wales in the running to win one of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence [1]. The Awards for Planning Excellence are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry. For over 40 years, they have and continue to celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society.

There are 78 finalists across 13 categories, in Wales they are:

• WELSH NATIONAL SAILING AND EVENTS CENTRE (Cyngor Gwynedd) –

a £9m multipurpose facility in Pwllheli, North Wales with a large flexible use hall, new berths for sail boats and tourist information. It is designed to host international sailing events and is a part of the UK Centre of Excellence (Excellence in Planning for Health and Wellbeing)

• THE JENNINGS (WYG and Bridgend Borough Council) –

transformation – using a best practice approach – of former 1800s tram terminal into a mixed-use scheme, including cafes and live/work spaces, in Porthcawl, which has acted as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider area (Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture)

• CAEAU MYNYDD MAWR SPG AND MARCH FRITILLARY PROJECT

(Carmarthenshire County Council) – a project to ensure suitable habitat for the protected marsh fritillary butterflies and manage the impact of economic around Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire in West Wales (Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment)

• THE NATIONAL TRUST: SHIFTING SHORES (The National Trust) – a

set of planning principles to guide the management of the coast (Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment)

Tom Watson MRTPI, Chair of RTPI Cymru said:

“This year’s awards’ shortlist is full of outstanding projects and plans. Each represents the hard work and outstanding contribution planners make to our community. It’s great to see so many local projects getting the national recognition they deserve.”

Andrew Jones MRTPI, Practice Leader Design Planning + Economics, AECOM

said:

“AECOM is proud to once again be a headline sponsor of this year’s RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence. The finalists are a diverse mixture of outstanding examples of planning, which demonstrate the breadth of the impact the profession has on quality place making and delivery in the built environment.”

David Jackson MRTPI, Head of Planning, Savills said:

“Savills is delighted to be a headline sponsor of the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence. The finalists reflect the positive impact planning has on our communities and wider society across the UK, Ireland and internationally through exemplary projects, plans and people.”

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at Milton Court – The Barbican, London on 24 May 2018. Tickets to the ceremony are on sale.