Fife Council's Planning, Climate & Sustainability Service has achieved national recognition at the Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland's national planning awards this week.

Winning Scottish Planning Authority of the Year, 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 service was recognised as a model planning authority for attracting and retaining talented planners as well as promoting planning to positively shape Fife's places working across the council, with investors and local communities​.

The service was also recognised for its strong ethos of continuous improvement, as well as working with partners to deliver developments.

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

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.”

Topping off the night, the team achieved a commendation award for the Dunfermline Learning Campus schools project and their work on that development.

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 on to the UK Royal Town Planning Institute awards in December.

Photo (L-R): Fife Council officers Kevin Treadwell, Mary Stewart, Pam Ewen, Emma Baxter, Alan Blackie, Derek Simpson, Craig Walker.