THE Ribble Valley's Bowland Initiative has been awarded a top planning accolade.

The project, which tests ways of restructuring upland farming, has won the award for planning for business in the Royal Town Planning Institute National Awards for Planning Achievement.

Supported by partners including Lancashire County Council and the Northwest Development Agency, the Bowland Initiative aims to enable the farming community to earn from its environmental assets.

It encourages linking and with new market opportunities in the aftermath of the BSE and foot and mouth outbreaks.

The scheme is also among the first to integrate economic development, including adding value to local produce, with environmental benefits, public access and health care for farmers.

Its key focuses are farm diversification, nature conservation and increased public access as well as offering business advice and training.

Stewart Swift, Northwest Development Agency area manager for Lancashire, said: "We are delighted that the Bowland Initiative has won this award.

"The project partnership has worked extremely hard to make this scheme a success and this as been acknowledged by the Royal Town Planning Institute judges."

Jill Pain chairman of the judging panel said: "This is an outstanding example of planning innovation and achievement which fully deserves wide recognition.

"The planning professionals involved should be proud that their work had resulted in significant environmental and public benefits."