Rochdale in line for success in prestigious awards

Posted by on 24 Mar 2022

Rochdale Borough Council’s development management team shortlisted in the LGC awards’ Small Team of the Year category

Rochdale Borough Council’s planning service’s development management team has been shortlisted in the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) awards, the UK’s most prestigious celebration of council excellence.

The team plays a crucial role in supporting the council’s growth and regeneration agenda, comprising town planners and technical support staff who have worked on a wide range of schemes across the borough. 

The award entry focused on the team’s employee-led transformation over the last two years, which resulted in more efficient and faster planning decisions for local residents and businesses, and the work of the team to significantly increase non-statutory fee income which has helped to support improved service delivery.

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy said: “This is a thoroughly deserved accolade for planning services and the development management team, which plays such an important role supporting regeneration, investment and job creation in the borough, as well helping local residents. The team took upon itself to develop new, more efficient ways of working and that has paid off hugely in the results it has achieved, despite the pandemic.”

LGC editor Nick Golding said: “Those shortlisted for the LGC Awards 2022 have worked tirelessly and innovatively to find new ways of supporting their communities through difficult times.”

This is the second year in succession that Rochdale has been recognised in the LGC awards, after the council and Rochdale Development Agency won the Economic Support award in 2021.

The winners of the LGC Awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on 20 July.