Date: 12 February 2008 08:09

PLANNERS TRIUMPH IN NATIONAL AWARD FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
County planners and Waterbeach company Donarbon have won a prestigious national award
 for their work to reduce climate change through good planning.
Cambridgeshire County Council planners were praised by judges for working with Donarbon on
plans to build a large waste management park to recycle and compost rubbish.
The panel were particularly impressed with the engagement there had been with the local community
 over the plans for the development of the Donarbon Waste Management Park near Waterbeach, Cambridge.
They also highlighted the use of the new design guide produced by the County Council to improve the look and 
quality of major waste facilities. The guide is a first in the UK.
The judges commented: "We were impressed by what has already been achieved in the park through the 
extensive recycling and waste minimization activities, which will help to deliver a wide range of sustainability and climate change objectives."
Every year the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI - the professional body for planners) holds a competition 
aimed at recognising both the diversity of land use planning activity and looking to highlight innovation, best practice 
and delivery of projects, plans, partnerships and initiatives.
The County Council and Donarbon jointly entered the Climate Change category of the RTPI National Awards 
for Planning. The entry sought to highlight the move away from landfill towards a more carbon friendly future through increased 
recycling and recovery of waste at this site. Judges visited the site and quizzed officers from the County Council and Donarbon. 
They heard how this large project passed through its planning application stages quickly largely due to the joint 
partnership encouraging local people to engage with the planning system through a series of manned exhibitions. 
David Atkinson, Minerals and Waste Planning Manager for Cambridgeshire County Council, 
said: "We are delighted to have won this award. Cambridgeshire is committed to reducing landfill and tackling 
climate change by encouraging reduction, reuse and recycling of rubbish. Donarbon has worked hard in partnership 
with us to engage with the local community about their plans to build this modern facility which will increase recycling and 
reduce the tonnes of rubbish that currently ends up in landfill."
Sarah Clover, Director of Business Development at Donarbon Ltd. said, "We are proud to have won this award, 
which is the result of partnership working with the County Council, a strong commitment within Donarbon to tackling 
the problems of waste, and consulting with the local community." 

John Reynolds