Neighbourhood Plan Committee Chairman Cllr Stewart Gardiner and fellow members of the Knutsford Town Council have been commended by planning experts at the Royal Town Planning Institute in its annual Planning Excellence Awards.
The Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan was commended in the Spatial Planning category for the north west region. The judges were impressed with the level of involvement by both volunteers and the wider community which supported the development of the plan with the town council.
Bev Watson, regional co-ordinator of the North West Royal Town Planning Institute further commented on the breadth of planning policies that had been developed and how these were presented within the final document to make it user-friendly.
“It is a good example of a community-led plan, which has provided opportunities for engagement and which has helped to raise the awareness and understanding of planning issues across the community.”
Cllr Gardiner said: “As a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute I am extremely proud to have been the lead councillor in the team that delivered the Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan and to have been judged by my peers to secure this commendation.
However, this award is not about me, but an affirmation of all the hours of hard work and effort put into the process by my Town Council colleagues, the team at Urban Imprint and so many Knutsford residents; too many to name here but a big thanks to you all - please share my pride.”
Cheshire East Council remains at the forefront of Neighbourhood Planning with many more Parishes and Towns engaging with the process and progressing to 'made plans' at referendum.
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood-plans/neighbourhood-planning.aspx
