Planners from Oxford City Council have picked up a prestigious award for developing a toolkit for people to understand how new homes will affect their neighbourhood.
The authority's heritage and specialist services team took home a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) South East Region Planning Award last month. The prize was handed over for putting together the Character Assessment Toolkit, which is being promoted by English Heritage as best practice on the management of the historic environment.
Planners secured English Heritage funding and worked with Oxford Preservation Trust to develop and test the kit, and Councillor Colin Cook, board member for city development and the council's heritage champion, said: “This is a great achievement and is a practical demonstration of Oxford showing how to work with stakeholders and raise the quality of our planning with heritage assets.
“The work that officers have done means that English Heritage now plan to roll out the toolkit more widely around the country. The toolkit has also raised the profile of our excellent in-house expertise, helping the council to secure more funding for other heritage projects.”
Debbie Dance, director of Oxford Preservation Trust, added: “Places mean a great deal to people and this work has helped local people to engage and communicate what makes up that special character – we are delighted to have assisted in the project and congratulate the city on their success.”
