North View named ‘Best Project’ at the North West Planning Excellence Awards 2026
North View has once again received recognition across the region, as the state-of-the-art inpatient hospital claimed two awards at the North West Awards for Planning Excellence 2026 on 19 June.
Representatives from our Capital, Estates and Facilities Team were in attendance to receive the Best Project award, as well as the Judges award for Planning for Wellbeing and Education, at a ceremony that took place at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester last month.
During the event, judges from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) praised the strong planning leadership that enabled the successful delivery of a major mental health facility, which meets local needs while achieving exceptional placemaking, wellbeing, and sustainability outcomes.
The 150-bed mental health facility, which opened in October 2024, is home to nine specialist wards that have been designed to enhance the wellbeing and recovery of patients. These latest awards recognise the project team's overall approach to engage with stakeholders from the outset to deliver a clinically driven design that will continue to deliver positive outcomes for our service users, carers and the local communities of North Manchester.
The RTPI judges also commended how an unsuitable building was replaced with an infrastructure that reflects a safe, therapeutic and dignified environment for both patients and staff.
Marc Reed, Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities, and Project Director for North View shared:
“This recognition at the North West RTPI Awards is a significant achievement for North View and is a testament to the detailed planning, strong partnership working, and carefully considered, service user influenced design that shaped the project from the outset.
"It reflects the commitment, expertise and collaboration of everyone involved in delivering a facility designed to make a lasting difference for service users, carers, staff and communities of North Manchester.”
As a regional winner, the project now goes into the national Planning Excellence 2026 event which will take place in December, giving North View the opportunity to add to its growing list of national awards and accolades.
The RTPI Judges said:
“The judges considered this to be an outstanding, high impact project that exemplifies planning at its very best.
“The scheme seamlessly integrates green and blue infrastructure, enhances biodiversity, and employs innovative design and delivery approaches to create a safe, dignified, and therapeutic environment.
“This is an excellent project that showed real ambition whilst remaining entirely focused on those that it was designed to serve. It is a worthy winner of Best Project and a huge congratulations from all the judges!”
WSP added:
“The WSP Planning Team are delighted that North View at North Manchester General Hospital has received the Judge's Award for Excellence in Planning for Wellbeing & Education, as well as the Best Project award. It is especially rewarding to see our role as planning consultants recognised as part of a collaborative team effort, helping to secure the timely delivery of an important mental health facility that is already providing a modern, therapeutic space to support patient recovery and wellbeing.”
