Sefton Council’s Planning & Building Control team are officially one of the best in the UK after winning a top Planning Excellence award.

Despite strong competition, Sefton Council won the Planning Authority of the Year awards for the North West at a glittering ceremony hosted by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) last week (Friday, June 23rd).

Praise

Judges heaped praise on the Local Authority’s Planning service for ‘consistently delivering an excellent service’ while lacking the resources other North West councils have.

In particular the judges were impressed by the range of special measures adopted to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and support given towards the economic recovery of Sefton.

The regional win now means Sefton Council’s Planning department are automatically in the final of the national awards ceremony set to take place later this year.

Industry

Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning  & Building Control, said: “It’s no surprise that the incredibly hard work of our Planning service is now being recognised as some of the best in the industry.

“We are proud to be the Planning Authority of the Year in the North West.

Support

“Judges highlighted the range of specialist measures we championed as part of our response to the pandemic and further support the economic recovery of the Borough.

“We have been lauded for the way the department were able to successfully balance all of this while consistently delivering ‘an excellent planning service’ and despite being one of the mor under-resourced councils in the region.

“The RTPI were so impressed with the Planning Department that not only have we been automatically shortlisted for the National final, we have also been invited to share our expertise and knowledge with other Local Authority Planning teams across the UK.”

For more information about Sefton Council’s Planning & Building Control service please visit www.sefton.gov.uk/planning