Senior Planners, Antonia Wyatt and Nia Borsey, as well as Associate, Melissa Balk, have all been recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) at regional awards ceremonies held over the last few weeks.
Nia won the Young Planner of the year for the North West region. Melissa scooped the same award for the East of England whilst Antonia received the accolade for the East Midlands.
Nia Borsey, based in our Chester office, was recognised because she has built a reputation as an exceptional planner, proactively expanding our planning services from Cheshire across the border into North Wales. Through a range of general practice work, she has demonstrated a flair for creative solutions, working on many projects from diversification schemes to listed barn conversions. Her work covers a wide array of projects, including residential and commercial developments, listed buildings, holiday lets and even a Tesla electric substation in Scotland. An active member of both the RTPI and the National Farmers Union (NFU), she makes full use of her platform to inspire young planners and works with the agricultural industry to ensure planning can play an important role in the future of farming.
Melissa won the award for the East of England thanks to her excellent leadership skills as well as showing an eagerness to develop the Bedford-based planning team.Antonia Wyatt was recognised for her dedication to raising the profile of the RTPI across the infrastructure sector thanks to her excellent client service and continued professional development. They felt she was a strong advocate of the important role planning plays in improving the community, particularly through biodiversity and rural projects. In addition to this, they were impressed by her passion about mental health and well-being and her use of her platform through the RTPI and Women in Planning to advocate for its inclusion in national planning policy.
Senior Planner James Beverley was also shortlisted for Young Planner of the Year in the East Midlands region. The judges were extremely impressed by the quality of his work and his dedication to building relationships with his clients. As a result, he was Highly Commended by the panel and received a certificate of commendation during the awards ceremony on Wednesday 20 July in Nottingham.
Whether working on schemes for oil, waste and water management, telecoms or green energy projects, Antonia has gained a strong reputation as an outstanding planner, with an impressive 100% planning approval rating. She prides herself on working closely with clients to identify and design the best solutions, ensuring that the delivery of critical infrastructure projects can begin without delay. In addition to this, Antonia was recognised because of her passionate support of planning graduates, acting as a mentor to many. She is also being Chair of the Pipeline Industries Guild’s Professional Development Network, helping to raise the profile of young planners within the infrastructure sector.
Antonia also organises, promotes, and chairs the annual Sir John Parker competition, which gives young people in the industry the platform to submit and present on an area they are working on. This commitment to enhancing opportunities for young planners was one of the reasons the panel selected her to win the East Midlands award.
Liberty Stones, our Head of Planning said: “Congratulations to all of the winners and the four finalists who were shortlisted. To have three winners in the RTPI Young Planner of the Year awards is brilliant. We are fortunate to have some of the best young planners in the industry in the firm who have grown their careers with FG. I am looking forward to celebrating at the national finals later in the year.”
The three winners will now all be entered into the national finals, taking place on Wednesday 30 November.
Click here to find out more about our bespoke land planning strategy advice service.
