AWARDS CEREMONY 15 February 2001
In 2000, the fourth year of the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning, there were 32 entries across 3 categories. Environment Minister Sam Galbraith presented four awards and eleven commendations during a ceremony at the Hub, Edinburgh.
Sam Galbraith said:
"Raising the standard of urban and rural Scotland is something to which I bring a strong personal commitment. We must place a greater emphasis on the quality of design and on the interaction between the built and natural environments to create the conservation areas of tomorrow
"The awards I am giving today illustrate what can be achieved and there are many fine examples of quality planning which should become the benchmark for the future.
"I am pleased to confirm that there will be a Scottish planning awards scheme next year, along similar lines to this; and I hope that the Royal Town Planning Institute will work with us again
"I would stress that I believe the planning system has a key role to play in delivering the Executive's wider objectives, for example in relation to sustainable development, social justice and economic competitiveness. These awards are important in raising the profile of planning and in demonstrating the value it can add to the quality of life in Scotland. This event is part of that process and I hope it will continue to grow in stature."
The Awards were:
Development Control Award
to Renfrewshire Council for its Development Control Service
Development Planning Award
to Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan & Transport Committee for its
Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan Monitor 2000
Development on the Ground Awards
to the Aberdeen Countryside Project for its
Environmental enhancements within Aberdeen City
and
to Dundee City Council Planning & Transport Department for its
Dundee City Centre Improvements
Commendations for Development Control
Clackmannanshire Council: Focus on customer service
Glasgow City Council: DC role in the Public Private Partnership for education
Commendations for Development Planning
East Renfrewshire Council: Use of internet and CD-Rom in local plan consultation
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: Loch nam Madadh European Marine Site management scheme
Angus Council: Streamlining the Angus Local Plan Inquiry
The Highland Council: Loch Eriboll aquaculture framework plan
Commendations for Development on the Ground
City of Edinburgh Council: Edinburgh Urban Forest Project
Fife Council: Sustainable urban drainage in East Dunfermline expansion
Falkirk Council & partners: Denny Path Network
Glasgow City Council & partner: Redevelopment of St Andrews Square, Glasgow
Glasgow City Council & partner: Glasgow: Homes for the Future
Each of the Awards and Commendations was introduced by Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner
After the presentations, the Minister applauded the fact that Scottish entrants had featured so prominently at the Royal Town Planning Institute national awards ceremony in London earlier this month. Commendations had been won by Glasgow for Homes for the Future (which features today), by Dumfries & Galloway for their Local Biodiversity Action Plan and Highland for their Structure Plan Youth Forum (both of which won Scottish Awards last year). Dundee won an award for their City Centre Regeneration (just as they had today). And the winner of the Silver Jubilee Cup, the highest accolade of the RTPI, was the Crichton Regeneration Project, led by Gordon Mann, one of the Scottish Award judges.
The three judges of the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning for 2000 were: Gordon Mann, Managing Director, Crichton Development Company Ltd and formerly Director of Planning, Dumfries & Galloway Regional Council; Andrew Raven, Chairman of the Deer Commission, member of the Scottish Consumer Council and non-executive Forestry Commissioner,; and Claire Woodward-Nutt, Planning team leader, Strathclyde Passenger Transport, and senior vice-convener, Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland.