NEWS: Planners win top award
A joint planning service has been recognised as the best in the West Midlands after a year of driving up standards and delivering change.
Malvern Hills and Wychavon’s Planning Team won Planning Authority of the Year for the region at the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2025 held on 27 June.
The award recognises a year of transformational achievement for the team, including successfully driving the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review, with support from colleagues from Worcester City Council, through the crucial examination stage.
Significant progress has also been made in delivering complex developments, such as Worcestershire Parkway, which now has government backing and will set new standards for a well-planned, modern, and sustainable community. The team was also a key part of the bid for and delivery of the £20 million Levelling Up project at Malvern Theatres.
The service has been restructured with a new team to deliver a fast-tracked service for smaller household applications, which make up most of the team’s work. Dedicated in-house specialists are focused on strategic and complex developments. Planning Performance Agreements, which set out clear timetables for major applications, are now being used to improve communication between the service and applicants and reduce delays. These changes have resulted in the number of applications approved within set deadlines soaring above the West Midlands average of 88%.
The service is playing its part in tackling climate change, including embedding policies around sustainable development, biodiversity net gain, tree planting schemes, and supporting the delivery of energy-efficiency measures at Malvern Splash and three community energy projects in Pershore. It was also noted 13.5% of all planning enforcement notices across the West Midlands were delivered by the joint service, demonstrating the two councils’ willingness to use a mix of approaches to ensure consistency and compliance with planning rules.
Improvements are being rolled out to phone systems and the planning section of both councils’ websites to improve the customer experience. At the same time, judges praised the service’s commitment to staff and councillor development.
Cllr Richard Morris, Leader of Wychavon District Council, said: “Winning this award shines a spotlight on the exceptional work being done by our planning team behind the scenes. Not only have they raised the bar locally—they’ve set a benchmark in the region. From tackling climate action to delivering major infrastructure and supporting local growth, this is a well-deserved recognition of how our planning service makes a positive difference in protecting and enhancing our district.”
Cllr David Harrison, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Flooding on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “This is recognition for the dedication, professionalism and forward-thinking of our planning team. They’ve delivered on everything from ambitious new communities to everyday applications that matter to residents, and done so with care, collaboration, and consistently high standards in an increasingly sped-up system. We’re incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved in a short time period, with many thanks to the senior managers."
News published 7 July 2025.