Planning plays a vital role in economic, social and environmental quality of life in the UK and Ireland. Used positively and creatively, planning produces and protects places of outstanding quality and brings lasting benefits for all those who live in them. Its practitioners can – and should – be proud of their contribution to these outcomes and the processes that deliver them.

Every year since 1978, the Royal Town Planning Institute has celebrated outstanding achievement in town and country planning through the RTPI Planning Awards. This year, we are bringing our awards for projects and awards for people together on the same deadline – all award winners will presented at the Awards ceremony in February 2012.

Awards for projects

The Planning Awards recognise the diversity of planning achievement in urban or rural areas, on large and small scales, involving new development or regeneration and promoted by the public, private or community sectors. The Planning Awards look beyond purely physical outcomes to recognise innovative plans, processes, techniques, information systems, programmes of community involvement and improvements to public services. We welcome entries from a wide range of organisations and there is no requirement for entrants to be RTPI members.

Awards for people

Within the Planning Awards for people, we seek to identify exemplary practice in the planning consultancy sector, in learning and development (recognising students, planning schools and employers) and among young planners. Great planning needs great planners, committed to reaching high educational standards, meeting the requirements of their clients and continuing their own professional development. There are categories for large, small and sole planning consultants, recognise the diversity of consultancies and their clients, and the variety of work involved.

The Awards are managed and promoted by Haymarket, publishers of Planning magazine, the official journal of the RTPI. The RTPI retains full control over the judging process.