Whitehill & Bordon’s Green Loop – a 7km network of walking and cycling paths around the town – has won two more planning industry awards.
It was voted Best Project in the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) South-East Awards in Brighton, and was joint winner of the Best in Region category. Last month it won a national Planning Award.
To win Best Project, the Green Loop impressed the judges with its use of digital media. Its active travel app BetterPoints allows residents to earn rewards by increasing their activity, improving their physical and mental health.
The judges were also impressed by a Whitehill Town Council project to collect drone footage of the pathways, representing a day in the life of the Green Loop and its many diverse users.
The joint Best in Region win saw the Green Loop share the crown with a project from Milton Keynes Council. The judges thought the winning schemes provided an excellent basis for planning authorities and developers to look to as examples of best practice for similar approaches in their own areas.
Cllr Phillip Davies, East Hampshire District Council’s assistant portfolio holder for Whitehill & Bordon, said: “What an incredible success. To win one award was fantastic but to pick up two more is unbelievable.”
Cllr Edward Heron, Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for transport and environment strategy, said: “It is wonderful news that this thoughtfully designed local network, which encourages active travel, has rightfully been recognised at the Royal Town Planning Institute Awards.”
James Child, project director at the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company, said: “We take great care over every decision we make, not least when it comes to planning, so we’re delighted with the judges’ comments regarding the more nuanced aspects of the Green Loop, such as the integration of the BetterPoints travel app.”
Whitehill Town Council leader Cllr Andy Tree said: “Seeing Whitehill & Bordon win awards is always a pleasure as Whitehill Town Council continues to work with all the other organisations involved to constantly strive to serve our residents.”
Urban Place Lab founder and director James Gross said: “To win a second award and go on to the national finals is surely a testimony to the passion and commitment that local people have put into this project.”