Shopping centre up for award

Victoria Gate Development (Phase 1) (Leeds City Council/Hammersons) is among four finalists from the city in the running to win one of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence.

The mixed retail and leisure development, which opened last year, is in the Excellence in Planning to Create Economically Successful Places category.

Competing in the same category is Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (Ove Arup and Partners). The £50m package of measures to reduce flooding along the River Aire in Leeds, including moveable weirs, is due for completion this summer.

Leeds Housing Regeneration Project (WYG/Keepmoat) has made the final cut in the Excellence in Planning to Deliver Housing category. One of the largest such projects in Europe, it is delivering 388 new council homes and 1,295 refurbished homes across 21 sites in inner city Leeds.

Leeds City Council is in the running for Local Authority Planning Team of the Year.

Emma Lancaster, RTPI Yorkshire chair, said: “The shortlist reflects the commitment of our members to the planning profession and recognises the positive impact planning has on our area. As finalists, they are getting the national and international recognition they rightly deserve.”

The Awards for Planning Excellence, the most respected awards in the UK planning industry, celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society. There are 90 finalists across 14 categories. The awards ceremony will be held in London on June 15.