Media centre

Monday 7 Feb 2005

WHITEMOOR COMMENDED AT TOWN PLANNING AWARDS

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Network Rail, Cambridgeshire County Council and Fenland District Council were commended last week at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) achievement awards for ‘Bringing the railway back to March’ – the development of the Whitemoor distribution centre in March, Cambridgeshire. Peter Heubeck, Network Rail’s Head of Infrastructure Materials, who represented the company at the award ceremony, said: “We were absolutely delighted to have been commended at these prestigious awards for ‘Bringing the railway back to March’.  The Whitemoor project was vitally important for the increased maintenance and renewal of the railway in the East of England.  It was successfully delivered in such a short space of time, which is testament to the hard work of everyone involved and the fantastic support from the local authorities and community.  The Whitemoor project delivered a vital engineering supply facility for the rail network in the East of England within strict timescales.  The success of the project was dependent on the efficient planning process implemented by Network Rail and the local authorities, resolving major issues such as the protection of rare plants, wildlife and recreational open space, minimising the impact on local residents and the top security prison HMP Whitemoor.   RTPI judges commended the project, particularly the close working partnership between all parties and the involvement of the local community: “We were impressed with the positive attitude of county and district council planners, which was matched by Network Rail’s sympathetic approach to environmental and amenity concerns.” Mark Vigor, Head of Strategic Planning for Cambridgeshire County Council added: “The whole team is thrilled with the commendation. The scheme has brought benefits at a local, national and even international level. On a local level it has created around 43 new jobs and brought with it a link road which will reduce the heavy goods traffic travelling through residential areas.” 104 submissions were received for this year’s RTPI planning awards and the judges were ‘astonished at the quality of entries’.  21 finalists were invited to an award ceremony held on Thursday 3 February at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, where the winners were announced and awarded with certificates by RTPI President, Ron Tate.    **Photographs of the award ceremony will soon be available on request**