Sandwell Council has been named as Planning Authority of the Year at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2024.
The RTPI Awards are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry. Now in its 47th year, the awards showcase and celebrate the best plans, people and projects across all councils.
Sandwell’s Planning team developed the Borough’s Regeneration Strategy and project pipeline in March 2022, which has levered in an impressive £2.9b of investment,
The team has helped deliver a number of regeneration projects in 2024 such as improvements to West Bromwich Town Hall and has plans for more in the coming years, including works to deliver improvements to our cycling and walking network, an extension to the Ron Davis Centre in Smethwick, several schemes to deliver new council homes such as Cresswells Road in Oldbury, three new further educational facilities in West Bromwich, Rowley Regis, and Smethwick, CCTV and public realm improvements in Wednesbury, and new housing and public realm improvements in Tipton.
By establishing an innovative integrated programme management approach, the team has been able to co-ordinate projects and programmes from concept to completion and prepare robust business cases for projects that benefit Sandwell. This has been instrumental in securing both funding from Government and private investment.
Working alongside this, the council’s Development Management function has continued to excel and deliver outstanding performance, with one of the best records nationally in dealing with major and minor planning applications swiftly This performance is testament to the team’s collective efforts, attracting investment providing a catalyst for regeneration and economic growth, resulting in new jobs and more prosperity for our communities.
The judges of the award said:
“Despite significant challenges, through teamwork, dedication, and innovation, Sandwell’s Planning Team should be positively applauded for levering significant levels of investment into their regeneration programme. In an era where growth is key, it is refreshing to see an LPA so aligned to a pro-investment and pro-development strategy.”
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure, Councillor Peter Hughes, said:
“Ten years ago, in 2014 we were honoured to be named the inaugural RTPI Local Planning Authority of the Year, and we are beyond thrilled to have earned this prestigious recognition once again in 2024. The past decade has brought its share of challenges, from navigating complex planning and regeneration issues to adapting to evolving needs in our communities. Through it all, our resilience, teamwork and unwavering commitment to progress have guided us forward. This award is testament to the passion and dedication of our incredible team at Sandwell and I would like to add my heartfelt thanks to each and every member of the team!”
Lindsey Richards, President of the RTPI, said:
"This year’s awards were a fantastic celebration of planning both across the UK and internationally, showcasing an exceptionally high standard of entries.
“Each entry was a demonstration of the positive contributions that planners are making within their communities as well as the work the planning profession is putting in to create thriving and innovative places."