Fife Council's Planning, Climate & Sustainability Service has taken top honours at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland awards, being named Scottish Planning Authority of the Year.

The service gained national recognition at RTPI Scotland's ceremony this week. Head of Service & Chief Planner Pam Ewen said: "Colleagues are delighted at achieving this accolade. This recognises the hard work and passion council officers have to making Fife a better place, as well as our approach to continuous improvement and recruiting and retaining talented people."

The judging highlighted the service as a model planning authority for attracting and retaining talented planners and for promoting planning to positively shape places across Fife, working with colleagues across the council, investors and local communities.

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Its strong ethos of continuous improvement and effective partnership working to deliver developments was also commended.

Planner Emma Baxter won the Scottish Young Planner of the Year award from a strong shortlist spanning the public and private sectors, reflecting her in-depth knowledge and experience of planning, skills and role-model qualities.

Emma said: "I'm incredibly honoured to receive this award. It reflects not only my own efforts, but the support, guidance and collaborative spirit within the team at Fife Council. Planning has a key role in shaping places and communities, and I'm proud to contribute to that work here in Fife."

The team also received a commendation for the Dunfermline Learning Campus schools project.

Cllr Altany Craik, Fife Council's spokesperson for Finance, Economy & Strategic Planning, added: "These national awards recognise the hard work, expertise and collaborative approach that our officers undertake in their planning, climate and sustainability work. From shaping major developments to working closely with communities and partners, their work is central to enhancing Fife and growing the economy.

"It's particularly encouraging to see individual talent like Emma Baxter's recognised alongside the wider team's achievements, reflecting the strength and depth of expertise we have within the service.

"I'm delighted to see this national recognition and offer my congratulations to everyone involved."

National winners will now go forward to the UK Royal Town Planning Institute awards in December.