The Scottish Government

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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.

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