Council Takes Top Honours at UK Planning Awards

Orkney Islands Council's ‘Team Stromness’ scheme – a regeneration effort spanning the last ten years – took the top award at last night's Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence.

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.

Team Stromness first took the award for 'Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy' - and then went on to scoop the Silver Jubilee cup, the overall award for the evening.

‘Team Stromness’ featured a Council-wide task force to coordinate several distinct regeneration projects within the historic core of the town, including:

• Repaving the main street in Stromness in local stone.
• Construction of the landmark Warehouse Building.
• Paving and redevelopment of the wider pierhead area.
• Grants for private householders and businesses to help traditional repairs and refurbishment through the Stromness THI.
• Redevelopment by the Council of the Commercial Hotel through the Stromness THI.

Gavin Barr is the Council's Director of Development and Infrastructure. He said: "I am immensely proud of this because the core of this project was the cross service collaboration of a range of professionals, the strong leadership from elected members and also, critically the sustained partnership with the Stromness community in progressing this work over several years."

Stromness Councillor and Leader of Orkney Islands Council, James Stockan, said:"Team Stromness and all it brought to our town was a dedicated, passionate, concerted and coordinated effort to bring about rejuvenation and regeneration to Stromness, building on the history and spirit of the town as a thriving economic and cultural hub. This latest accolade, on the back of scooping the top award in Scotland back in November, is a reflection of the dedication shown by our multi-disciplinary team.

“There are even more exciting times ahead for Stromness as we see further investment come to fruition including the multi-million pound Orkney Research and Innovation Campus project and a new care home for our oldest townsfolk. Stromness is now firmly on the map as a premier place to live, work, and do business and I am delighted to call it home.”