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MacDonald launches 1998 Award for Quality in Planning
21/08/1998
Nominations for excellence among planning authorities were invited today by Scottish Planning Minister Calum MacDonald.
The 1998 Awards for Quality in Planning will recognise:
· outstanding performance and quality in development control
· outstanding performance and quality in development plans
· outstanding quality in development on the ground resulting from significant input by planning authorities, such as regeneration work
Mr MacDonald said:
"I was impressed by the nominations in 1997, the first year of the awards, and I hope we can build on the interest and enthusiasm that has already been shown by those who participated. Quality is an integral part of development planning and we must continue to recognise this.
"Planning has an impact on all our lives and we must encourage excellence to ensure public confidence in the system."
BACKGROUND
1. The awards will be presented in February 1999 by The Scottish Office in association with the Royal Town Planning Institute. Recognising outstanding work by planning authorities is the primary aim but work by other bodies such as consultants, community organisations or national agencies has not been excluded.
2. Nominations under any of the three categories are to be lodged with the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland at 57 Melville Street, Edinburgh, by 16 October.
3. The three independent judges, who have been reappointed from last year, are:
· Jeremy Rowan Robinson, Professor of Land Economy at Aberdeen University and one of the leading authorities on planning law in Scotland;
· Gordon Mann, Managing Director of Crichton Development Company Ltd and formerly Planning Director at Dumfries & Galloway, Shetland Banff & Buchan Councils;
· Andrew Raven, Director of Land Management of the John Muir Trust and a member of the Scottish Consumer Council.
4. Local authorities have the main responsibility for operating the planning system in Scotland. They deal with applications for development under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and prepare development plans which provide the policy context for their decisions.
News Release: 1671/98
21 August, 1998