York Minster receives the highest Royal Town Planning award

It was shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Yorkshire Excellence in Plan Making Practice’ category at this year’s Royal Town Planning Institute (RPTI) Awards for Planning Excellence.

The Neighborhood Plan sets out an ambitious 15-year roadmap to ensure a sustainable future for both York Minster and its seven-acre estate.

Its passage on June 16 last year – following a municipal referendum of all residents on the Minster Precinct electoral register – marked the first time a neighborhood plan has been used to map the future care of a cathedral or listed estate.

Recent developments, part of the wider neighborhood plan, include the Department’s permission to install 199 photovoltaic panels on the roof of its South Quire and the creation of a historic craftsmanship center of excellence, construction of which will begin shortly.

The quad in the planned “competence center” (Image: York Minster/planning documents)

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, said: “We are delighted to be recognized for our pioneering approach to heritage preservation, particularly given the strength of the competition and the status of these awards for our industry.”

“The Neighborhood Plan was developed over four years of hard work and involved extensive collaboration with the York Minster Neighborhood Forum, York Minster Fund, York City Council and the local community.

It is a truly community-driven plan, rooted in heritage while considering the future through the use of cutting-edge technology, and offering a political pathway to decarbonize the Minster and its precinct.”

The Royal Town Planning Institute is a leading membership organization and Chartered Institute responsible for maintaining professional standards in planning and the built environment.

Its Awards for Planning Excellence are widely regarded as the UK’s leading planning awards.

The Excellence in Plan Preparation category recognizes submissions that demonstrate excellent practice in plan preparation, including how the accepted plans will have a positive impact on the local economy, community and environment.

For more information on the York Minster Neighborhood Plan, see yorkminster.org/about-us/master-planning/