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The presentation ceremony for the Eighth Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning was held at The Hub in Edinburgh on 10 March 2005

Malcolm ChisholmMSP, Minister for Communities, together with Dr Günther Beckstein, Bavarian State Minister for the Interior presented prizes to the winners of the 2004 Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning ( SAQP) and the urban design award for students, the "Designing Places Award". On behalf of the Sir Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust, the Minister also presented prizes to the winners of the Trust competition.

There were 41 applications to the 2004 SAQP, which is run by the Scottish Executive in association with the Royal Town Planning Institute, and the Minister presented 2 Awards and 10 Commendations. An Award was presented to the Designing Places winners.

In presenting the Awards, Malcolm Chisholm said:

"I am delighted to see such a high turnout for this event. The numbers here today show the level of genuine interest there is in celebrating quality in the planning system.

"I am also very pleased that Dr Beckstein has accepted our invitation to attend, and indeed participate, in this important event in the Scottish planning calendar. Bavaria is one of our key European partners.

"We are here today to recognise the achievements of those planners, students and others who have won something. I am sure that you will join me in applauding their excellent efforts. Well done to you all! The high quality of some of the entries, added to the winning entries from previous years, provide a benchmark for planning authorities and others to reach or surpass. The attainment of high quality in the planning system is a challenge I want to repeat. Current achievements show that the level of skills and innovative ideas are there in many areas of Scotland. We need to build on this.

"In June 2003, the First Minister signed a formal co-operation agreement with Bavaria. The co-operation agreement identified planning as an area where we could exchange experience and best practice. I am pleased to say that this co-operation has been taken forward in a number of ways.

"In his speech last night [at the Scottish Parliament] Dr Beckstein suggested that he would like to see the achievements of Scottish planning and urban design exhibited in Munich. I can see considerable merit in this and I have asked my officials to consider how this might be taken forward.

The judges have commented in their report that they were pleased with the range of nominations in the "development plan" and "development on the ground" categories. They were, however, disappointed that only five entries were received for development control. Local authorities again dominate the nominees but it is pleasing to see an increased number of entries from the private sector.

"They were also impressed by the variety of bodies that have been jointly nominated as partners. I share their desire to see more community groups, developers, public agencies and voluntary organisations participating in future years.

"The Partnership Agreement commits us to strengthen the involvement of communities in planning. Community involvement is important in all that we do. I wish to announce today that I will be adding a category of best practice incommunity involvementto the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning with effect from this year.

"We have been working in partnership with the RTPI since the Awards were launched over 8 years ago. It has been a close partnership, both of us promoting the importance of quality in the planning system, and I look forward to their involvement in this year's Awards.

"I would ask you all to continue to highlight what you are capable of, as this ceremony provides an ideal opportunity to showcase your work and allow others to learn from it."

SCOTTISH AWARDS FOR QUALITY IN PLANNING

	OVERALL WINNER For the second year running there was an Overall Winner. This top Award went to The City of Edinburgh Council, John C Hope Architects, Holyrood Brewery Foundation, DSP Ltd and SEEL for: Holyrood North Site, Canongate.

This project involved the regeneration of the important and sensitive site formerly occupied by Scottish & Newcastle Breweries south of the Royal Mile, within the Old Town Conservation Area.

The judges visited the Holyrood North Site and recognised its importance to the regeneration of the area. They consider that the quality of the environment is exceptional, managing to integrate historic and new by following the historic settlement pattern, by quality streetscape and use of materials. The judges were impressed by the sustainable mix of uses on site and consider this to be one of the elements of its success. The project also displayed quality in management, sustainable development, partnership and regeneration which made it truly outstanding. The judges had no hesitation in declaring this the Overall Winner for 2004.

The two Award winners were: In the Development Plan and related category Raploch Shadow Urban Regeneration Company, Stirling Council, Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, Forth Valley Health Trust, Communities Scotland, Forth Housing Association and Raploch Regeneration Group for Raploch Masterplan and Design Guide.

Overall, it was considered that the Raploch Masterplan and Design Guide provide an excellent tool to manage the regeneration of the area.

	In the Development on the Ground category The Highland Council, Communities Scotland, Pentland Housing Association, Caithness & Sutherland Enterprise, Lower Pulteneytown Community Heritage Association, Heritage Lottery Fund and Wick Youth Club for Telford Street Development, Pulteneytown, Wick.
The judges felt that there was outstanding quality of design, details, vision and community and stakeholder working.

The ten commendations were:

Development Control

Planning Service Website ( Shetland Islands Council) and Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland Online ( The Scottish Civic Trust, Historic Scotland and the Barcapel Foundation).

Development Planning

East Fife Community Consultation ( Fife Council, Fife Rural Partnership and Various Community Councils in East Fife); The Drum Bo'ness: Masterplan Phases 1-6, park and cemetery ( Cadell ², Grange Estate, iD Consultants, Steven Tolson, Bonar MacKenzie and Alan Jeffrey); and The Leith Ahead Initiative ( the City of Edinburgh Council, Forth Ports, Historic Scotland, SEEL, Communities Scotland and Primary Care NHS Trust).

Development on the Ground

Beith Townscape Heritage Initiative: The Cross Heritage Regeneration Project ( North Ayrshire

Council, Beith & District Community Council, Communities Scotland, Cunninghame Housing Association, Heritage Building Preservation Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire); Craite Barn, Applecross: Planning for a Sustainable Community ( Albyn Housing Society Ltd, Highland Council, Highland Small Communities Housing Trust, Communities Scotland, David Somerville (Architect) and Applecross Community); Newmilns Townscape Heritage Partnership ( East Ayrshire Council and Irvine Valley Regeneration Partnership); Airdrie Town Centre Environmental Improvements Phase 2 ( North Lanarkshire Council, Strathclyde European Partnership, Aedas Landscape & Environment, Andrew Ramsay Design, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Town Centre Initiatives); and Dymock's Building, Bo'ness ( The Pollock Hammond Partnership, Falkirk Council, National Trust for Scotland and Castle Rock Housing Association).

DESIGNING PLACES AWARD

An Award went to Julie Seidel, John Davies and Richard Broadley (students recently graduated from Heriot-Watt University) for the Kelty Challenge.

SIR PATRICK GEDDES MEMORIAL TRUST COMPETITION

A joint Award for "A Piece of Course Work showing Evidence of the Work of Geddes" went to Siobhan Walsh, Niall De Burca, Meabhann Crowe, Michael Fenny, Djelloul Hariri and Nollaig Curran.

Each Award and Commendation was introduced by Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner.

The 3 judges of the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning were: Joan Burnie, Associate Editor of the Daily Record (Chair of the panel); Paul Gregory, formerly Director of Economic Development and Environmental Planning, Scottish Borders Council; and Fiona Moriarty, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium.

The judges of the Designing Places Award were: Rob Cowan, Morag Bain and Jim Mackinnon.