• People’s Award asks communities to nominate transport initiatives that have made a difference to their lives
• Transport for New Homes award recognises new housing developments that offer more sustainable transport choices
• Judges whittle down longlists to ten finalists after TPS and TfNH held open nominations from across UK
• People’s Award shortlist features community focused projects in Lincolnshire, Plymouth, East Sussex, Croydon and Enfield
• Transport for New Homes shortlist features developments in Bath, Crawley, Dorset and South East London

Details of the ten finalists of the second annual People’s Award and the first ever Transport for New Homes award have today been announced by the Transport Planning Society (TPS) and Transport for New Homes (TfNH) at a reception in the Houses of Parliament.

The People’s Award

Now in its second year, the People’s Award invites communities to demonstrate how transport planning projects have made a positive impact in their area. The shortlist shows the diversity of transport planning, from small scale community projects to major overhauls of busy streets in both rural and urban Britain. The shortlist includes:

• Better Streets Enfield: A105 Scheme (Enfield, London)
• Croydon Living Streets Group and Friends of Love Lane Green Community Garden (Croydon, London)
• Plymouth City Council: Plymotion (Plymouth, Devon)
• Ramblers: The Deepings Green Walk (Market Deeping and Deepings St James, Lincolnshire)
• Seaford Head School: active travel maps (Seaford, East Sussex)

The Transport for New Homes award

The Transport for New Homes Award aims to recognise recent housing developments which have been located and designed so that residents do not need cars to live a full life. Developments were recognised for:

• The right location for sustainable transport links
• Attractive public transport
• Good walking and cycling routes, within and in and out of the development
• Creating a pleasant public realm that isn't dominated by car parking
• Having shops and services close to hand

The shortlist includes:

• Royal Arsenal Riverside (South East London)
• Poundbury (Dorset)
• Kilnwood Vale Phase 1 and 2 (Crawley, West Sussex)
• Kidbrooke Village (South East London)
• Bath Western Riverside (Bath)

Special ceremony in House of Commons to celebrate finalists

All ten finalists were today invited to celebrate their achievement a special ceremony in the House of Commons, hosted by the Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Lilian Greenwood MP.

The overall winners of the two awards will be announced at the Transport Planning Day, on 20 November at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London.

After receiving nominations from around the country, the People’s Award judges looked at transport schemes that had made a real difference to people’s access to services, quality of life and wellbeing, while involving communities in the planning stages.

The People’s Award judging process was led by Stephen Joseph OBE, transport policy consultant and former Chief Executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, alongside regeneration expert Mary Parsons and senior transport and planning civil servants, Tricia Hayes CBE and Steve Quartermain CBE.

Stephen Bennett, Chair of the Transport Planning Society, said:

The People’s Award asks communities across the UK to tell professionals what good looks like, by nominating an initiative that’s made a difference to their lives.

"While major projects hit the headlines, the award is a reminder that often the most important initiatives are ones that take place in the local community, informed or even led by local people; projects that keep us connected to the things we need every day – our jobs, schools, green spaces and health services.

“We’ve been delighted by the breadth of entries to this year’s People’s Award. It truly shows how important good transport is to our everyday life.

“I wish the finalists good luck ahead of Transport Planning Day 2019.

Jenny Raggett, one of the judges for the Transport for New Homes Award, said:

The way we combine new homes with transport will determine how we travel and therefore the way we live for decades to come. Cutting back on car use and instead being able to walk, cycle or use public transport on a daily basis is all part of the lower carbon and healthier lifestyle that many people aspire to.

“Today we're pleased to shortlist five developments that buck the trend for out-of-town car-dominated estates, places where real attention has been paid to sustainable transport and quality of life.

Lilian Greenwood MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee, said:

The five finalists show transport professionals that when communities take centre stage, they can address local needs and deliver real and lasting benefits.

“I congratulate all the projects who have been shortlisted for this important award, and I was delighted to hear more about them in the House of Commons today.

Sue Percy, Chief Executive of Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, said:

The work of transport planners is paramount to our industry. Ensuring all developments are properly connected for all is at the heart of CIHT’s vision for our sector. Congratulations and well done to all of the finalists. The shortlisted initiatives have done an outstanding job in highlighting the importance of sustainable, accesible and environmentally friendly transport for all communities.

The People’s Award and the Transport for New Homes award are part of the Transport Planning Day campaign led by the Transport Planning Society with support from Jacobs, AECOM, Mott Macdonald, WSP, Arup, PBA – now part of Stantec, and Steer.

Transport Planning Day 2019 takes place on the 20th November 2019. It will bring together transport planners, town planners and community groups to discuss best practice in community engagement and what transport planners to should look to achieve in developing local schemes.

A focus this year will also be on sustainable transport for new housing in partnership with Transport for New Homes.