A Sandwell planning officer has won the Young Planner of the Year award in this year’s West Midlands Award for Planning Excellence.

Jenna Langford, a senior Sandwell regeneration officer, won the award for her work on a range of schemes in the borough and her support for young people.

The judges said that she had been recognised for her commitment to supporting others and specifically for assisting people to take up planning as a profession through the Planning Futures programme.

Under this programme Jenna has visited schools, colleges and universities to promote career opportunities.

She has been a member of the council’s regeneration team since 2010 and has worked on important schemes which have transformed Sandwell, with projects such as the New Square shopping centre, Sandwell College Central Campus and the Providence Place office developments.

“I am honoured to receive recognition by the RTPI,” she said. “It is a testament to the excellent work we do as a regeneration and growth team and the council’s commitment to creative distinctive towns and neighbourhoods, which are successful centres of health community life, leisure and entertainment.”

Jenna has recently been appointed regeneration manager at Sandwell and she said she was looking forward to developing and delivering future regeneration projects, with a particular focus on Inclusive Growth, to ensure that Sandwell communities and businesses really benefitted from high quality housing, jobs and connected transportation.

She said she wanted to thank the RTPI and Sandwell Council for all their support in her professional development.”

Councillor Paul Moore said: “I am very pleased to hear of Jenna’s success. She is a very talented planner and is doing some excellent work in Sandwell. I am sure she has a bright future ahead.”