North Prospect Regeneration shortlisted for Best Project Award

We’ve been shortlisted for a regional award by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) for our North Prospect regeneration which completed in September 2024.

The transformational regeneration has been shortlisted for Best Project in the southwest Awards, with the winner being announced at Sandy Park in Exeter on 11 June.

Judges from the RTPI visited North Prospect last month where they were given a presentation and tour of the largest regeneration scheme in the southwest by Nick Jackson, Head of Business Services & Development, alongside Neil Mawson, Housing Delivery Manager for PCC and Carly Francis, Area Planning Manager for PCC.

The transformational project, the largest regeneration scheme of its kind in the southwest, began in 2012 and saw the demolition of almost 800 homes in a poor condition over the following years.

The North Prospect community now includes more than 1,100 high quality, energy-efficient new homes, offering a better variety of house types, sizes and tenures. The building works were so substantial that the construction of new homes was divided into five phases, which are now complete.

The project delivered 491 new homes made available for affordable and social rent, and 195 for purchase as shared ownership, creating overall 686 affordable homes– more than the 605 socially rented homes previously in the area. PCH also refurbished a further 300 social rented homes.

As part of the regeneration, PCH pledged a community hub for the area – The Beacon which was opened in 2013, a mixed use community centre at the heart of the community which creates 20 local jobs and hosts 12 regular community groups including fitness, health, craft, and social groups.  

The regeneration has led to a reduction in crime in the area of 59%, and improved employment outcomes for local people.

Nick Jackson, Head of Business Services & Development said: “It’s great to have the recognition of the RTPI for our work in North Prospect. The judges were looking specifically at how we incorporated planning into the regeneration and the outcomes for residents in the community. Whilst it’s still early days to measure some of the outcomes, we’ve already seen a significant reduction in crime, improved employment outcomes and more community cohesion.”  

PCH resident Anne Allen said: “I’ve been in North Prospect for 30 odd years now, and when people ask me if it’s a nice place to live, I say yes – I’m still here! We’ve got a nice community who meet up regularly which is nice. When my friends visited me a couple of weeks ago, they couldn’t believe the size of the house I’m in.”

Another resident commented: “I think what has been built is really lovely and it suits the needs of the people living in their homes.”  

A stepping stone to a national celebration

If PCH are lucky enough to scoop the top award next month, all the South West Awards local winning entries will be put forward for the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence national awards. The national finalists will be announced in mid-October. And the winners will be honoured at a celebration ceremony taking place in London on 27 November.

Stuart Wingfield, RTPI South West Head Judge said: "Entries for this year’s south west RTPI awards demonstrated the extraordinary variety of work that the regions planning professionals undertake. From our exceptionally talented young planners, to seasoned consultancy practices, to hard-working local planning authorities, this year’s entries demonstrate the skill, dedication and creativeness that south west planners pour into their work on a daily basis and the judging panel have very much enjoyed the difficult task of picking the worthy shortlist for the awards."