Award Winning Marine Plan Shortlisted for National Award

An award-winning plan that will guide development activity in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters continues to make waves as it’s shortlisted for another prestigious award.

The pilot Marine Spatial Plan has been announced as a finalist in the category for Excellence in Plan Making Practice at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2017.

It previously scooped the Partnership Working category at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP) in November.

The plan was prepared by a working group consisting of Orkney Islands Council, The Highland Council and Marine Scotland and was adopted by Scottish Ministers and both Councils in 2016.

Throughout the planning stages, people in the area had the opportunity to get involved in the development of the Marine Spatial Plan, with a series of consultation events held in Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland. Local people, businesses and wider stakeholders have also provided invaluable input at key stages in the plan making process.

The RTPI Awards are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry. Running for 40 years, they celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society.

Councillor James Stockan, chair of the Development and Infrastructure committee, said: “I am delighted to see further recognition for this important piece of work.  A huge amount of effort was put in by the team, by the Council, and by the communities who so enthusiastically fed into what was a huge engagement, and ultimately helped put in place a plan which draws together all the users of our ocean space.

“It is a credit to the resourcefulness and vision of our communities and a common determination to secure the best for our region.

“This is pioneering work of the highest order and shows the world that remote areas really can lead the way for how these things can and should be done.”

Stephen Wilkinson, President of the Royal Town Planning Institute said: “The finalists represent some outstanding contributions to planning which are making a positive impact for the community and environment. The judges will find it difficult choosing the winners given the high calibre of entries this year.”

This year saw a nearly 40% increase in entrants and the judges have shortlisted 90 finalists across 14 categories with an overall winner awarded the Silver Jubilee Cup. The winners will be announced during a ceremony held at Milton Court at The Barbican, London on 15 June 2017.

For more information about the plan, visit the blog on the Scottish Government website or the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters MSP web page. Orkney Islands Council  also produced a short film  to help raise awareness of the Plan which can be viewed via the Council’s YouTube channel.