Marine plan shortlisted for national award

An award-winning plan to guide development activity in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters is continuing to make waves after being shortlisted for another prestigious award.

The pilot Marine Spatial Plan has been announced as a finalist in the category for Excellence in Plan Making Practice at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2017.

It previously scooped the Partnership Working category at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP) in November.

The plan was prepared by a working group consisting of Orkney Islands Council, the Highland Council and Marine Scotland and was adopted by Scottish Ministers, and both councils, in 2016.

Councillor James Stockan, chairman of the OIC development and infrastructure committee, said: “I am delighted to see further recognition for this important piece of work.  A huge amount of effort was put in by the team, by the council, and by the communities who so enthusiastically fed into what was a huge engagement, and ultimately helped put in place a plan which draws together all the users of our ocean space.

“It is a credit to the resourcefulness and vision of our communities and a common determination to secure the best for our region.

“This is pioneering work of the highest order and shows the world that remote areas really can lead the way for how these things can and should be done.”