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News

Poole Scoops Top Planning Award

At the Royal Town Planning Institute Awards 2005 held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on February 2 2006 the Borough of Poole picked up a prestigious award for its Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative.

The National Awards ceremony celebrates good planning highlighting examples of best practice from around the country. In all there were 14 schemes that picked up awards and Poole and Taunton were joint winners in the Spatial Strategies category.  This category recognised the outstanding work undertaken by the authority in developing a vision and strategy, design guidance and moving towards implementation of its aims in the Full Sail Ahead regeneration project.

Poole had submitted the Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative supplementary planning guidance which includes the illustrative Masterplan for Poole's central area as a vision for how to move forward following the Government's decision in 1997 not to fund a new high level bridge. The project looked at how a new bridge, Twin Sails, could facilitate the release of underused and vacant land in Poole's central area whilst providing the necessary transportation infrastructure to support movement around the town. It championed a design-led philosophy to raise the quality of development in Poole and create investor confidence in the town.

The judges were impressed by the teamwork involved in the project, particularly between the borough, Terence O'Rourke and other consultants but also involving other agencies. Judges comments included: "We commend the professionalism and thoroughness of the approach as the work moves beyond master-planning into implementation", and stated that it is, "no paper exercise already leading to action on the ground". "The Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative contains a comprehensive background of design guidance and detailed practical planning policy against which development can be assessed which should lead to improvements in the town centre."

The national award follows closely on the heels of the Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative scooping the South West award for best other planning work i.e. for a plan/strategy rather than completed development.

Cllr Ron Parker, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Local Economy, Borough of Poole, said: "This is a fantastic achievement. For the last six years the Council has been working towards delivering a much improved town centre, making the most of vacant sites around the town centre and securing a new harbour crossing. This award recognizes the tremendous work that staff have produced and teamwork of the Council/consultant team. This award can only help us to deliver the type of development that will meet the needs and aspirations of the residents of Poole.”

Nigel Jacobs, Senior Planning Officer, Plannign Services, Borough of Poole, tel 01202 633328