The shortlist for the 2009 Royal Town Planning Institute National Planning Awards highlight the sheer diversity of the work of British planners in our towns and cities.

Projects with a chance of winning the planning sector’s top accolade range from groundbreaking urban regeneration schemes such as Victoria Square in Belfast, to the extension of the Docklands Light Railway, and far-reaching spatial strategies such as Birmingham’s “Big City Plan.”

The quality and range of these exciting entries show how serious planners, developers and communities are about improving the places where we live, work and relax- and in difficult economic times show what can be achieved when vision, drive and good planning come together.

Rynd Smith, Director of Policy and Partnerships at the RTPI said: “Good planning is all about making places that inspire and uplift the soul and this year’s short listed projects for the RTPI National Planning Awards do just that. In these difficult economic times, it’s great to see planners, local authorities, architects and developers all working together to make better places to enjoy and to live and work in.”

A total of 94 entries were received this year covering all categories, and the 32 finalists will over the next few months be visited by the Award’s judging panel, consisting of Kay Powell, (Secretary of the National Planning Forum) and Chair of the Judges, Gareth Pryce, (Vice President of the Planning Summer School) and Professor Chris Couch of  Liverpool John Moores University.

Kay Powell, chair of the judging panel, commented: “The RTPI Awards shortlist was drawn from 94 entries, all of which illustrated a range of achievement and good practice. The Panel had a hard task homing in on the most innovative examples for visits and presentations over the summer and early autumn. If you made the shortlist, well done!  If not, do carry on aiming for excellence!”

There are 12 categories but one overall winner of the Silver Jubilee Cup. The Judges have made both awards and commendations where appropriate.