PLANNING staff at Sedgemoor District Council have been announced as joint winners of the Royal Town Planning Institute's south west awards for planning team of the year. 

The council's Development Management Service was named the joint winner alongside Feria Urbanism, a private planning practice, on Tuesday, November 23. 

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) awards celebrate outstanding planners, plans and projects that demonstrate the power of planning in the country's regions. 

The RTPI website says: "The awards highlight exceptional examples of how planning and planners have a positive impact on our quality of life in creating exceptional places and protecting our environment.

"In recognising and rewarding excellence we aim to inspire others to achieve the same high standards."

The overall RTPI south west awards winner was Clyst Valley Regional Park Masterplan. 

Sedgemoor District Council (SDC)'s entry said the council has sought to be innovative in addressing barriers and building relationships to engage and progress strategic, multi-partnership issues whilst engaging through 'Enabling Development'. 

Gill Slocombe, portfolio holder for inward investment and growth at Sedgemoor District Council (SDC), said: "I am truly delighted that the work that Sedgemoor’s planners carry out has been recognised. 

"We continued to work positively and proactively to continue to deliver an outstanding planning service throughout lockdown, maintaining collaborative working with others to make sure that we progressed many significant major developments across the district. 

"Planning remains critical in the delivery of development and infrastructure to enable growth, whilst having to serve the needs of the community as a whole."

The RTPI's judges said: "This service is being delivered by a well organised, highly motivated professional planning team, working collaboratively within the council as well as with clients/developers and other agencies.

"It became clear to the judges that there is high satisfaction among clients and other bodies with the quality of service as well as wide buy-in of all involved of the Council’s ‘enabling growth’ ethos." 

They added: "Other areas that stood out to the judges were the team's careful attention to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, coupled with rapid adaptation to remote working, including committees and a willingness to adapt and support one another across the service.

"Special mention was made of continuing investment, support and development of staff throughout the past year.

"In the judges' view,  there is clear evidence in this team of a 'can do' attitude; an aim for continuous improvement going over and above their mandatory duties, and a willingness to learn from others’ experiences, as well as to generate local improvements.

"The team’s positive attitude to change is reflected in the realisation that there will soon have to be joint working across the current Somerset Districts following reorganisation in 2023."