By Morwen Johnson
As part of our ongoing relationship with the RTPI, we were pleased to sponsor two of the categories of this year’s RTPI Awards for Research Excellence.
The winners have just been announced today and represent a showcase of high quality, impactful spatial planning research with clear implications for policy and practice.
Worthy winners
The Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement went to Dr Paul Cowie, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University for his collaborative project, The Town Meeting. Developed with Cap-a-Pie theatre company, the immersive theatre piece uses the issues faced by a fictional town to help audiences explore how communities plan for their future. This is especially relevant given the new context of the changes around localism and neighbourhood planning.
Andrew Riley, Chief Operating Officer, Idox plc said: “Innovation comes from doing and seeing things differently. Dr Paul Cowie’s project, The Town Meeting, which has received The Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement, offers a creative perspective on public engagement and is bringing the complexities of planning policy to life for the public in a way which is new and exciting.”
Meanwhile, Emma Thorpe, a student in the School of Planning and Geography, Cardiff University won the Student Award for her research Getting Wales Active: Exploring Secondary School Students’ Attitudes Towards Active Commuting.
Andrew Riley, Chief Operating Officer, Idox plc commented: “The development of a new generation of talented young researchers is vital and we are pleased to be working with the RTPI in recognising gifted planning research students who are early in their careers. Emma Thorpe from Cardiff University produced research with impact. Her work can be used by planners to develop more effective active travel planning policies.”
Increasing the links between practice and research
Announcing the winners, Janet Askew, RTPI President said: “The RTPI’s Awards for Research Excellence are an important way of increasing the links between practice and research. I am delighted to see that this research, often carried out in conjunction with practitioners and communities, really can make an impact to create better places. By recognising this, we can show Government and the public that students and academics in our accredited planning schools are working on very relevant research which will make a difference.”
As the UK’s leading provider of planning and building control solutions to local authorities, Idox actively engages with issues affecting the planning profession. We are proud to support the RTPI Awards for Research Excellence and congratulate all the winners and commended entries for their achievements.
The Idox Information Service has also introduced a new individual membership offer in partnership with the RTPI which offers a 30% discount on the normal price.
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