National recognition for city council’s natural environment planning strategy
The Winchester Nutrient Mitigation Strategy has been recognised and commended at the esteemed Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) 2025 National Awards for Planning Excellence in the Planning for the Natural Environment category. The award celebrates outstanding projects that improve the natural environment through conservation, restoration or enhancement.
The joint award submission by Winchester City Council and the Partnership for South Hampshire is based on the work that the city council has undertaken to protect and improve the water quality of important rivers (Itchen) and chalk streams across the district, while still being able to provide new homes.
By upgrading city council owned wastewater treatment works (WWTW) and retrofitting council-owned properties with water efficiency measures, homes using these systems will not be adding harmful nutrients to rivers and streams.
Instead of relying on third party mitigation schemes, the city council has created its own – and is the first council-owned phosphorous mitigation in the Solent area.
The project was previously nominated for the regional award for Best Project earlier this year, and at the national finals the judges commended this project for “its innovative phosphorus mitigation, which unlocks housing development and significantly improves water quality, setting a benchmark for sustainable planning.”
Councillor Jackie Porter, Winchester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Place and the Local Plan, said: “Being formally Commended in this national award is testament to the teams’ commitment and energy in finding solutions to an important but complex issue which both protects our rivers and waterways, but still allows for the development of much needed homes. I am delighted the judges have recognised this project and all its benefits, alongside some very strong competition from across the country.”
Councillor Keith House, Chair of the Partnership for South Hampshire, added: "This is great recognition for work being done in our region to safeguard the environment while enabling much-needed development. The Partnership for South Hampshire created the Solent Mitigation Partnership to work with developers and local planning authorities to deliver and manage high-integrity mitigation solutions. This is an important project for all parties involved and shows how collaboration achieves outcomes that will benefit everyone."
The RTPI national awards ceremony were held in London on Thursday 27 November 2025.