PWLLHELI’S sailing academy has been shortlisted for a national prize.

Plas Heli – a £9m multipurpose facility – is one of four Welsh finalists in this year’s Royal Town Planning Institute’s Awards for Planning Excellence.

The awards are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry. For over 40 years, they have, and continue to, celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society.

The Welsh National Sailing and Events Centre is described by judges as having a large flexible-use hall, new berths for sail boats and tourist information.

It is designed to host international sailing events and is a part of the UK Centre of Excellence (Excellence in Planning for Health and Wellbeing)

It goes up against The Jennings in Bridgend, Caeau Mynydd Mawr SPG and March Fritillary Project in Carmarthenshire and the Shrifting Shores project by the National Trust.

John Acres, RTPI president, said: “This year’s finalists reflect the important contribution planners and planning makes to creating great places and tackling the challenges we face across the UK.

“Planners are taking on new and innovative projects and the finalists show they are succeeding.

“It’s a huge achievement just to be shortlisted this year given the six per cent rise in entries to the awards and the high calibre of entries will make judging very difficult.”­

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at Milton Court - The Barbican, London, on 24 May.