Finalists from Scotland at this year’s event are:

• The Proposed Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2020 - Delivering Digital Engagement During a Pandemic, submitted by Aberdeenshire Council (Excellence in Tech within Planning Practice, Excellence in Plan Making Practice) Revised development plan proposal featuring virtual drop-in room, interactive story map, three short films, interactive activities for young people and live chat function
• East Ayrshire Council Minerals Local Development Plan, submitted by East Ayrshire Council (Excellence in Plan Making Practice) Restoration of more than 2000 hectares of land formerly used for coal mining, resulting in a sustainable environmental, economic and social legacy
• Glasgow Canal Project, submitted by Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership (Excellence in Planning for Health and Wellbeing) Development of series of attractive indoor/outdoor canal leisure hubs between Port Dundas and Maryhill Locks, Glasgow
• Lady Matheson’s Seminary, Stornoway, submitted by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture) Restoration of former school, employing traditional work methods and skills to providing six high quality, affordable homes
• Glasgow’s Open Space Strategy, submitted by Glasgow City Council (Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment) Enhancing the city’s ‘liveability’, focusing on the health and wellbeing of residents and the long-term resilience of the city in relation to issues such as climate change
• Holmlea Primary School Conversion, submitted by Glasgow City Council (Small Housing Schemes) Conversion of Grade B-Listed school building and janitor’s house into development of one and two-bedroom flats, delivering a total of 49 affordable homes
• SSEN Transmission (In-house Planning Team of the Year) Team at SSEN has worked on nationally significant high voltage electricity substation, overhead line and land/marine cabling projects in challenging terrain and sensitive environments
• Aurora Planning, Aberdeen (Small Planning Consultancy of the Year) Aurora Planning believes everyone should be able to engage effectively with the planning system, so regularly assist community and voluntary organisations pro bono
• Iain MacPherson - Kevin Murray Associates, Glasgow (Young Planner of the Year) Innovative and outward-looking, Iain has demonstrated his willingness to take responsibility through his collaborative work with communities, clients and within multidisciplinary teams.

The RTPI’s annual awards are the longest-running and most respected in the UK planning industry. The awards celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society not just throughout the UK but internationally.

The climax of the ceremony, which will take place on virtual platform The Awards Room by Evessio on 29 April, will be the presentation of the Silver Jubilee Cup, awarded to the project adjudged best overall.

In total, 93 projects, teams and individuals across 15 categories have been selected by the independent judges this year. A new category for this year is Planning Heroes in a Pandemic, recognising the innovative work of planners in response to Covid-19.

The judging panel in 2021 will be chaired by Dyan Currie HonMRTPI, chief planner at Brisbane City Council, Australia and immediate Past President of the Commonwealth Association of Planners.

RTPI President Wei Yang FRTPI said: “For over 40 years, these prestigious awards have celebrated the exceptional work undertaken by town planners. In the middle of a global pandemic, I believe they are more relevant than ever before as we showcase the very best of our profession from all the RTPI’s regions and nations and from countries around the world.

“I am particularly pleased to see this year a new category has been created to recognise the incredible commitment and dedication of planners who have risen to the challenge of responding to the impacts of Covid-19 on the planning system.

“I wish all the finalists the very best of luck at the ceremony.”

Sarah Elliott MRTPI, UK&I town planning lead for buildings and places at headline sponsor AECOM, said: “AECOM is proud to once again be a headline sponsor of this year’s RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence. The finalists are a diverse mixture of outstanding examples of planning, including new responses driven by the pandemic and climate change. Once again this demonstrates the breadth of the impact the profession has on quality place making and delivery in the built environment, alongside our resilience to evolve and adapt.”