STEP CHANGE
D AWAR DERWENTHORPE SCOOPS RTPI YORKSHIRE PLANNING EXCELLENCE AWARD Combining inspiration from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s model village New Earswick with the latest in modern design and construction, the Derwenthorpe Phase 1 housing project in York won the RTPI Yorkshire Planning Excellence Award 2014 at its Centenary Reception at the National Railway Museum in York on 9 July 2014. The judges were impressed by Derwenthorpe’s careful choice of materials, and detailing of large steeply pitched roofs, painted brickwork and striking dormer windows that create a distinctive ‘sense of place’. Within the development, priority is given to pedestrians and the extensive public landscape is integral to the scheme to create an attractive, liveable new community. The RTPI Yorkshire Planning Excellence Award celebrates and recognises the high-quality planning work done in the Yorkshire Region. A special award of ‘Highly Commended Finalist’ was made to Sheffield City Council for Nursery Street and Edward Street Breathing Spaces (a strategy of developing a network of high-quality neighbourhood open spaces as a setting for development around the edge of Sheffield city centre).
RTPI ELECTS NEW FELLOW The institute has elected a new Fellow, with Keith Thomas joining just 110 others who have demonstrated a contribution to planning and the RTPI above and beyond that expected as an ‘ordinary competent professional planner’. Fellowship of the RTPI is one of the highest professional attainments possible. Thomas runs PER Consulting in Cardiff and is a director of Planning Aid Wales. He said: “I originally joined the RTPI through Special Entry route to help define a rather eclectic career. To be elected a Fellow in the centenary year is a truly proud achievement and demonstrates the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to effective planning. Hopefully, I can inspire others to follow suit and continue to demonstrate the diverse experience that contributes to good planning.” Andrew Taylor, chair of the RTPI’s board, said: “I’m extremely pleased Keith has been elected to Fellowship. He has an impressive 30-year career spanning the private and public sector which has distinguished his involvement in innovative practice.” n For more information on how to become a Fellow please visit http://bit.ly/Rtpifellows
RTPI members discuss their big career-changing decisions “IT IS BENEFICIAL TO BE A MEMBER OF THE RTPI BECAUSE IT ENDORSES MY PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY”
Lydia Voyias Principal Planner, Pegasus Group AN RTPI 2013 APC OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER I am a principal planner at Pegasus Group, working on a range of projects for residential, employment and mixed-use development. I have worked there for just over three years. My career-changing decision took place when I decided to take the APC (Assessment of Professional Competence). I did this to illustrate my professional development throughout my employment and to demonstrate my professional competency to become a member of the RTPI. Although I found the process time-consuming and the log book a bit of a chore, at the end of the two-year process it was clear to see how much I had progressed professionally. When I received my acceptance letter I felt a great sense of achievement. I was delighted to find out I had been selected as a 2013 APC Outstanding Achiever, as the time and effort I put into my APC had been recognised. I believe it is beneficial to be a member of the RTPI because it endorses my professional competency to colleagues and clients, and demonstrates the range of experience I have acquired. It also enables my future career progression as I can then be an expert witness at appeals and Examinations in Public in due course. During the APC process I particularly found the log book to be a useful tool to identify areas of work experience I needed to develop prior to the submission of my APC. I then remedied the area through discussion with my line managers. My top tips to other candidates are: c Keep up to date with the APC guidance; c Start early and keep on top of your log book. c With the essays, ensure that you fulfil the marking requirements and provide the evidence to demonstrate how you have fulfilled each of the competencies. This is difficult given the word limit, so choose your case studies in good time in discussion with your mentor and allow sufficient time to perfect the written submission.
S EP TEMB ER 2 0 14 / THE PLA NNER
p44_47_RTPI_news.indd 47
47
26/08/2014 11:30