A County Durham culture, heritage and registration venue, praised for its innovative design and contribution, has scooped a top national planning award.
The Story has won the national ‘Excellence in Planning Excellence in Heritage and Culture Award’ at this year’s Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2025 in the wake of its success as a gateway to the history of County Durham and its people.
Located in the historic Grade II listed Mount Oswald House near Durham City, The Story brings together five historic collections, including six miles of archives charting 900 years of County Durham’s history as well as the entire Durham Light Infantry Collection and Archive.
In its first year, the centre welcomed more than 120,000 visitors and has engaged in excess of 1,600 children in the county’s past through its popular school sessions, workshops and weekly Small Stories group.
This is in addition to the thousands of children who have visited the site with their families.
It’s also the home of the County Registration Service, which has seen hundreds of couples married in its ceremony rooms.
Designed with accessibility, sustainability and the user experience at its heart, The Story secured the award after the judges recognised it as one of the UK’s most outstanding projects and the professional excellence provided to secure the planning green light.
Joe Ridgeon of North East planning specialist Hedley Planning, one of those involved in the project, who acted as a planning consultant to developers Kier Construction, said he was delighted to see national recognition for such an important regional initiative.
He added: “The Story is an outstanding example of creative planning vision, investment and success, so it’s fantastic to see our efforts recognised at the highest level.
“I would also like to add that it was great to work in partnership on this project with Kier Construction and Durham County Council, whose involvement and support has been pivotal in writing a new chapter in The Story’s success.”
The RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2025, held in London, showcase and celebrate the best plans, people and projects. Currently in their 48th year, the coveted awards recognise and highlight the positive contribution planning professionals make to the communities we serve worldwide.