Frances Keenan Named Young Planner of the Year at Prestigious Industry Awards

Frances Keenan, Planning Manager at Spitfire Homes has been named as the National Young Planner of the Year at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2024.

The RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry. Now in its 47th year, the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence showcase and celebrate the best plans, people and projects. The Young Planner of the Year award recognises Fran’s demonstrated commitment and contributions to the planning profession. In addition to her role at Spitfire, Frances has been serving on the West Midlands Young Planners Committee for the past five years and actively promotes planning with young people through volunteering.

The judge of the category said:

“Frances’s passion for planning and becoming an ambassador for Young Planners was evident. All judges were impressed by her achievements and commitment to inspiring others to enter the profession. She is a well-rounded planner who is growing in confidence and her ability to deliver planning outcomes. Her role within WM RTPI has allowed her to push the boundaries through her partnership with the Grace Foundation and her ongoing engagement with schools, universities, and colleges in the West Midlands region.”

Frances commented:

“Receiving the Young Planner of the Year award is a significant milestone in my career, and I am honoured to have recieved this prestigious accolade from the RTPI. It has been deeply rewarding to contribute to the development of various communities through my current and previous roles within the sector and I look forward to driving new projects across the Midlands as Spitfire continues to grow.”