The president, John Acres, is visiting the town after the council's 'Team Stromness' regeneration scheme won the top award at the UK National RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence earlier this year. It also scooped the award for 'Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy'.
The scheme, which has spanned the last 10 years, included:
• Repaving the main street in Stromness in local stone.
• Construction of the landmark Warehouse Building.
• Paving and redevelopment of the wider pierhead area.
• Grants for private householders and businesses to help traditional repairs and refurbishment through the Stromness THI.
• Redevelopment by the Council of the Commercial Hotel through the Stromness THI.
Mr Acres will meet with community representatives at a short reception in the town, alongside Chief Executive of the RTPI Victoria Hills and Director of the RTPI in Scotland, Craig McLaren.
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Meetings have also been arranged with elected members and officers from Orkney Islands Council's Planning team for the president to hear more on key projects that they are currently engaged in in Orkney, including Marine Spatial Planning, the role of the Council's planning team in the management of the World Heritage Site and the current Townscape Heritage Initiative in Kirkwall.
Stromness Councillor and Council Leader, James Stockan, said: "We look forward to welcoming Mr Acres to Orkney and to Stromness to see the huge impact that the award winning Team Stromness project had in our town. Stromness' winding streets has been alive with glorious weather, thousands of visitors and eclectic events this summer and there is no better time to show it off.
"While he is here, Mr Acres will also hear from our planning team on a number of other initiatives that we as a council are currently involved in – all of which have the potential to improve Orkney for everybody."
John Acres MRTPI, RTPI President added: "I'm looking forward to seeing the planners' transformation of the town of Stromness first-hand. The before and after photos are really impressive and are a testament to the way the community and planners have worked together to turn around the fabric and fortunes of the town over the last few years. I'm sure we can apply some of these best practice approaches to other places elsewhere in the UK which are also in need of effective strategic and local planning to help boost their confidence and prosperity."
(CM)
