FAQs - Building London Planning Awards

General FAQs

What are the Building London Planning Awards? 

The Building London Planning Awards, supported by the Mayor of London, and in partnership with the BAME Planners Network, the Planning Officers Society and RTPI London, celebrate and champion outstanding town planning and creative development from across London’s built environment sector. 

What are the key dates? 

  • Entries close: Wednesday 9 April 
  • Judging – finalists determined: April – May 
  • Finalists announced: May 
  • Judging – winners determined: ´³³Ü²Ô±ð â¶Ä”â¶Ä¼î³Ü²µ³Ü²õ³Ù 
  • Awards ceremony: Tuesday 14 October 2025

Why enter? 

The Building London Planning Awards are widely respected within the public and private planning sector, offering significant benefits to winners and finalists. By submitting an entry you’ll be in the running to receive:  

Expert evaluation 
Our judging process is what sets us apart. All entries are subject to in-depth review from our esteemed judging panel. Depending on the category, finalists will also be subject to either an in-person presentations or a site visit to their project by the judging panel, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of your work. The lengths our judges go to when scrutinising the entries is what underpins the integrity of the awards. Our judging process helps us build a thorough understanding of your projects, enabling us to recognise and celebrate the best of London’s built environment

Industry recognition 
Winning a BLPA award positions you as a leader in planning innovation and excellence. This recognition can set you apart from competitors and showcase your project’s impact on London’s built environment. 

Influential exposure 
The awards provide the perfect platform to present your work to the most influential figures and decision makers in the planning industry, including representatives from the Greater London Authority, RTPI, Planning Officer’s Society, and the BAME Planners Network, plus others that make up our judging panel and ceremony audiences.  

The most prestigious accolade, our ​‘winner of winners’ 
In addition to category-specific awards, winners have the chance to receive the esteemed Mayor’s Award for Good Growth. This special recognition, supported by the Greater London Authority, highlights projects that exemplify sustainable and community-focused development. 

Enhanced visibility 
Both finalists and winners benefit from increased online presence through social media coverage before, during and after the event, amplifying your project’s reach and impact. 

Symbol of excellence 
And of course, all winners receive a trophy, serving as a physical representation of their achievement and a powerful marketing tool to set your business apart from the competition.  

Submissions 

How to enter 

Entries have now closed for 2025. Our submissions period runs from January — March each year, following this we send the entries over to our judges for our two-step judging process. You can find more about this here.

Further details, including how to buy tickets for the ceremony, will be announced soon.

Tips from the judges: How to craft an award-winning entry 

Want to make your Building London Planning Awards submission stand out? Our esteemed judges have shared their insider advice to help you create a compelling entry that captures the essence of your project’s excellence.  

  1. Tell a compelling story: Through your submission, paint a vivid picture and provide detailed information that brings your entry to life.
  2. Highlight your unique selling points: What makes your project innovative? What makes you and your work stand out from the competition? Don’t be shy about showcasing special features.
  3. Back it up with evidence and fact check your work: Ensure all information is accurate, up-to-date and within the word limit before submitting.
  4. Include powerful testimonials: Personal feedback adds credibility and emotional impact to your submission.
  5. Tailor your entry and be sure to address category-specific criteria: Each category has unique requirements. Customise your responses accordingly – ​‘copy and paste’ is easy to spot and won’t win you any points!
  6. Make it visually appealing: within your supporting documents try to include high-quality images, diagrams, and drawings to enhance understanding of your project and illustrate your project’s impact. 

By following these expert tips, you’ll create a submission that not only meets the criteria but also captivates the judges’ attention and maximises your chances of success. Good luck!  

Do I have to answer all the questions within the application? 

All the questions with asterisks need to be answered. Some questions are optional but remember that the more information you give us the better we will be able to judge your entries. 

Can I submit an entry in more than one category? 

There is no limit to the number of entries each organisation can submit, however if you are submitting the same project into multiple categories please refer to the category specific criteria – entries that are copied and pasted into multiple categories without regarding for the specific criteria will be removed. 

Can I submit an entry from a previous year? 

Yes, as long as:  

  • Your entry didn’t win in this category in a previous year 
  • The completion date is in line with the category criteria 
  • Within your entry you can demonstrate progress over the past year (resubmitting the exact same entry from a previous year will not earn you a place as a finalist!) 

How do I know if I am eligible to enter?  

As part of the specific category criteria, each category provides guidance on who should enter. In addition to who should submit the entry, each category also has its own eligibility period which will be detailed when entries are open.

Who are the Judges? 

Our esteemed judging panel is made up of industry experts from across the built environment and from both the public and private sectors.  

You can find out more about our judges on our judging page here. 

How will the entries be judged? 

Our judging process is known to be one of the most robust out there and is an important factor for both the prestige and integrity of the Building London Planning Awards. Find out more about the thorough two stage process here.  

Do I have to present to the judges? 

This depends on the category. All our finalists, other than the Outstanding Contribution Award, will either be required to do a presentation or facilitate a site visit for our judges. These will take place in June and July. 

The categories that require a site visit are: 

  • Best Mixed-Used Project 
  • Best New Place to Live  
  • Best New Place to Work 
  • Best Retrofit Project  
  • Placemaking, Heritage & Culture Award 

You can find out more about this process on our judging page. 

Are the awards free to enter? 

Yes.

Will I be notified if I am unsuccessful? 

Yes, we will send an email to let you know whether your entry has been successful. 

Will I get feedback if I am unsuccessful? 

Given the nature of the in-depth judging process, and due to the volume of entries received our judges are unable to provide individual feedback on submissions.

We are very grateful to our judges who give up their time to review all entries received.  

Awards Ceremony 

What are the costs to attend the awards ceremony 

Finalists receive two complimentary tickets to attend the ceremony. Additional tickets can be purchased once bookings open in the spring. 

91¶¶Òù members also benefit from two complimentary tickets, or three if you are a 91¶¶Òù Partner member.  

If you are not a finalist or a 91¶¶Òù member tickets will be available to purchase once bookings open.

Why attend? 

There are so many reasons to attend the Building London Planning Awards!  

The ceremony is an unforgettable evening of unrivalled networking that brings together the most influential industry leaders and decision makers from across the planning world.  

Whether you take home a trophy or not, the ceremony offers exceptional exposure for all finalists.  

Attending gives you the opportunity to show your appreciation to the planning sector.  

And, of course, is the perfect environment to celebrate achievements with your team, colleagues and peers.  

Where is the ceremony? 

The awards ceremony will take place at Glaziers Hall, London Bridge on Tuesday 14 October 2025. 

What is the format of the ceremony? 

At the Building London Planning Awards the emphasis is always on the high-quality networking available, and this year is no exception! The ceremony will take place as a sparkling evening reception offering an array of drinks, canapes and bowl food.  

What is the dress code?  

Cocktail – celebrate in style, but without the stiff formalities of black tie. 

Do I need a physical ticket?  

A physical ticket is not required but you must pre-register to attend the awards.  

Finalists receive two complimentary tickets to attend the ceremony. Additional tickets can be purchased once bookings open in the Spring. 

91¶¶Òù members also benefit from two complimentary tickets, or three if you are a 91¶¶Òù Partner member.  

If you are not a finalist or a 91¶¶Òù member tickets will be available to purchase once bookings open.

Once your booking is confirmed you will receive a confirmation email that includes a QR code ticket, which you will be asked to show on arrival.  

Can I cancel my booking?  

For all paid-for tickets, bookings cannot be cancelled, however up to 48hours prior to the event you can transfer the booking to another name.  

To transfer your ticket, and for all changes to complimentary tickets, please email us at ±ð±¹±ð²Ô³Ù²õ°ªâ€‹b³Ü²õ¾±²Ô±ð²õ²õ±ô»å²Ô.​c´Ç.​u°ì