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Application form
Please make sure you have read all the notes carefully before you start to fill in the application form. This application form can either be completed by hand or electronically - it is available on the Planning homepage at www.scotland.gov.uk/planning. Please complete all five sections. The deadline for submitting applications is 27 August 2008. An acknowledgement letter will be sent to the person who has completed this form.
1 Please provide a name and contact details of the lead organisation responsible for this work.
Name | Laurie Mentiplay |
Job title | Associate |
Organisation | Halcrow Group Ltd. |
Address | 16 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6LB |
Telephone | 0131 272 3300 |
Fax | 0131 272 3301 |
Email | mentiplayl@halcrow.com |
2 If this is a joint application, please list the other partners who had a key role. You should also inform your partners that you are nominating the project for an award.
1 PB ltd. (Lead Consultant) | 2 City of Edinburgh Council (Planning Authority) |
3 tie ltd. (Project Manager) | 4 |
5 | 6 |
3 Tick one nomination category
4 Title of entry | Successfully Steering Edinburgh Trams through the Planning Process |
Please complete the form on the following pages by providing a brief summary of the piece of work you have entered. You must also conclude with a key reason as to why you think this work merits an Award. Only the two A4 pages supplied here can be used and your text must fit within the boxes. The font size should be no less than 12pt.
The judging criteria are set out below. Please tick only the key criteria relevant to your entry:
You must describe how the project relates to the criteria which you have ticked.
Description of project
The project is Edinburgh Trams. The partners are seeking recognition for successfully steering this large infrastructure/regeneration project through the planning consents process. To build the tramway, we have required to obtain 82 separate planning approvals from City of Edinburgh Council ( CEC) and Historic Scotland. The actual development on the ground is underway and will be completed in 2011. Edinburgh will have a state of the art, world class tram network connecting the Airport, City Centre and Leith Waterfront regeneration area. |
Describe the background to the project
The trams received Parliamentary Approval in 2006. The two Tram Acts put in place a legislative framework for gaining the necessary planning approvals. This included a requirement for 61 'Prior Approval' applications, 9 Full Planning Applications, 11 Listed Building Consents and 1 Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent. The planning approval boundaries along the tram route were batched in discussion with CEC, Historic Scotland and the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. The batches were agreed following a thorough character appraisal of areas along the route, in conjunction with project programme and technical considerations. |
What are the aims and objectives of the project?
To secure all necessary planning consents on behalf of tie ltd to allow the construction of the tramway infrastructure. To successfully deliver these approvals to the timescale & programme needed to avoid unnecessary delay & cost to the tram project To achieve a high quality design which fits appropriately with its surrounding context, meeting the CEC's placemaking objectives while fulfilling technical and engineering requirements. |
Over what timescale has the project been developed?
Explain the process and action taken
1.Early engagement/regular meetings with CEC's City Design Champion/key staff. 2.Approvals Management Plan, Weekly Monitoring Tracker and Urban Design Briefs prepared. 3.Monthly liaison meetings with Head of Planning to agree processes and protocols. 4.Tram Design Manual approved. 5.Best practice study visits. 6. Exemplar submissions/plans and Design Statement. Checklist and Flow Chart. 7. Design Charrettes, Design Panels + visualisation list. 8.Tram Design Working Group to progress design elements, application batching and detailed design with key stakeholders. 9.Workshops/walkabouts. 10.Informal Consultation meetings with signed record. 11.Bi-weekly Approvals Task Force and signed Protocol to resolve key planning issues.12.Weekly Look Ahead. 13. List of conditions and informatives. Tracker/programme of consents set out |
Explain the role of the key partners
tie ltd - Client and Project Manager Halcrow and PB - provide the 'System Design Services' to tie and responsible for providing a comprehensive and integrated tramway design. The team is led by PB, with Halcrow as subconsultant responsible for securing all Approvals. City of Edinburgh Council - Planning Authority and Promoter. The key partners were co-located at the same office. Each partner had a lead person, who provided a single point of contact and coorindated view on behalf of a dedicated, core team of named individuals. |
What results were achieved?
1. 100% success rate achieved in timescales needed to support the construction programme. 2. Consistent system design that also reflects the specific characteristics of the urban and suburban and rural landscapes that tram passes through. Special effort and emphasis placed on creating best solutions for World Heritage Site and Conservation Areas. 3.Co-operative and collaborative process between planners, designers and 3rd parties e.g.; Historic Scotland/Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. This approach has generated a quality design which will serve the City of Edinburgh for years to come. 4. Innovative, creative working practices and a template that can be applied to extensions to the Edinburgh Tram and/or other major Scottish infrastructure projects in the future. |
In summary, why does this piece of work merit an Award?
This project demonstrates cutting edge, best practice in successfully steering a major project through the planning system. It not only responds positively to the Scottish Government's modernisation agenda for Planning, but sets the benchmark for all national infrastructure projects in the draft National Planning Framework. Edinburgh Trams also sets a high standard for proactive, effective and creative engagement, before and after every application is submitted. Our work has been a truly collaborative public-private partnership, built on mutual trust, commitment and understanding. We have introduced new, innovative planning tools, templates and ways of working and submitted high quality applications. This is all underpinned by a highly effective project management approach to Development Management. |
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