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Held in Valencia, Spain, the BEX 2008 International Awards celebrate excellence in how the built environment is designed, planned and developed across all corners of the globe.
Drawing entries from as far-a-field as America, Russia, Asia and the Middle East, the awards are one of the few truly global platforms on which regeneration schemes form one country are judged against the next.
Birmingham won first prize in the best 'Master Planning' category for its work alongside Urban Initiatives in developing the groundbreaking Big City Plan.
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Cllr Neville Summerfield, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "Simply to be on the short-list for such a prestigious award was a great achievement, so to win it is amazing and recognition of the scale and groundbreaking scope which the Big City Plan is seeking to address.
"While Birmingham has long been at the forefront of regeneration innovation in the UK, projects such as the Big City Plan, New Street Gateway and £193m Library of Birmingham are increasingly making the rest of the world sit up, take notice, and want to do business with us."
Being developed by leading urban planners, Urban Initiatives, The Big City Plan is the single biggest master planning exercise ever undertaken in the UK, and amongst the biggest in the world.
Shaping the future of Birmingham over the next 20 years, and beyond, the plan will co-ordinate a regeneration programme worth tens of billions of pounds and more extensive that that taking place for the London 2012 Olympics.
Competing with Birmingham's Big City Plan for the BEX award were masterplans for:
- Abu Dhabi 2030 - a 25 year plan for the development of the Middle East city
- La Spezia Waterfront - a former naval base near Genoa being transformed into an entertainment and leisure district
- Marina Bay - a man-made bay in Singapore set to host the Formula One Grand Prix from 2008
(JM)
