Judges announced for The Pineapples awards for place 2026

 

New judges for 2026 include previous Pineapples winner Basil Demeroutis, Managing Partner at Fore Partnership. Demeroutis, who took home the golden pineapple alongside Civic and Webb Yates for Climate Resilience last year, has said he’s "very pleased" to be judging. "Huge fan of everything you are doing there!"

 

Winner of the Activation category last year, Adriana Marques, Assistant Director of Cultural Programming and Strategy at Peabody has also joined as a new judge to share her expertise in improving spaces for culture and communities. 

 

A finalist last year in the Infrastructure category, Michaela Jackson, Transport Planner and Project Manager from Stirling Council will be sharing her passion for sustainable transport. 

 

Ballymore will also be taking to the stage with representative Nicola Zech-Behrens, Project Director, who manages major residential and mixed-used schemes across London. 

 

"We’re thrilled to see Nicola lending her insight to an awards programme that champions thoughtful, impactful placemaking," Ballymore posted in response. 

 

 

Rasmus Astrup, Senior Partner & Design Principal at SLA returns as a judge and previous Pineapples winner after taking home the trophy for International Future Place in 2025. Astrup brings a specialisation in ’City Nature’ with experience in landscape architecture, urban design and climate adaptation from spearheading SLA’s most complex global landscape projects. 

 

A number of judges are returning too – including Strategic Project Manager at Manchester City Council, Nick Barton and Deborah Broomfield, Doctoral Researcher at Leeds Beckett University. 

 

The Pineapples 2026 features 16 categories covering all aspects of place development from Place of Year, Activation, Public Space, Community Engagement, Place in Progress, Creative Retrofit, Future Place, International Future Place, Infrastructure, Building, Future Public Realm, Climate Resilience, Child Friendly Place, Strategy, Community Space and Healthy Homes.

 

 

 

Adriana Marques, Assistant Director of Cultural Programming and Strategy, Peabody

Amandeep Singh Kalra, CEO and Founder, GreenFlip

Amanprit Arnold, Disability Urbanism

Azzees Minott, Chief Operating Officer, 2-3 Degrees

Basil Demeroutis, Managing Partner, Fore Partnership

Ben Adams, Founding Director, Ben Adams Architects

Blossom Young, Head of Policy, Research and Advocacy, Poplar HARCA

Bridget Snaith, Sheffield University

Caroline Jennings, Marketing and Communication Director, Cadogan

Cathy Russell, Urban Design Director, Ryder Architecture

Chloe Mcfarlane, Community Engagement Manager, Grosvenor Property UK

Christopher Arthey, Director, Axiom Developments

Claire Hepher-Davies, Senior Development Manager, The Crown Estate

Clive Nichol, Founder/CEO, Fabrix

Daisy Narayanan, Public Realm Director, The Crown Estate

David West, Founding Director , Studio Egret West

Deborah Broomfield, Doctoral Researcher, Leeds Beckett University

Dr Elizabeth Rapoport, Director, Polygon Place Strategy

Duncan Benrnsten, Medway Development Company

Elaine Cresswell, Director, reShaped

Eleanor Fawcett, Head of Design, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation

Esther Everett, Head of Design , London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC)

Gemma Holyoak, Development Manager, TOWN

James Gosden, Specifications Director, Tectonix

James Bruce, Director, Civic

John Stiles, Placemaking Manager, London Borough of Brent

Jon Watson, Development Director, Landsec

Julian Tollast, Head of Masterplanning and Design, Quintain

Karoline Soisalo de Mendonca, Regeneration Manager, Oxford City Council

Kate Brown, Head of Strategic Communications, HUB

Kuljeet Sibia, Founding Director, Diverse Dialogues

Larry Botchway, Co-Founder, POoR Collective

Laura Cassullo, Director, Stride Treglown

Lizzie Lynch, Communications and Influence Lead, United St.Saviour

Lucy Atlee, Senior Quality and Design Manager, Places for London

Lucy Crockford, Community Development Manager, Grainger PLC

Marie Williams, Founder and CEO, Dream Networks

Mark Lebihan, COO, Hadley Property Group

Michaela Jackson, Transport Planner and Project Manager, Stirling Council

Nick Barton, Strategic Project Manager, City Centre Growth & Infrastructure Team, Manchester City Council

Nicola Zech-Behrens, Project Director, Ballymore

Paul Richards, Deputy Chief Executive, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Rasmus Astrup, Senior Partner & Design Principal, SLA

Rebecca Thomas, Director, Fathom Architects

Rene Sommer Lindsay, Associate Urban Designer, AtkinsRéalis

Richard Coppell, Group Development Director, Urban&Civic

Sharon Giffen, Head of Design, The Earls Court Development Company

Sophie Thompson, Director, LDA Design

Sophie White, Sector Lead Regeneration, Aviva

Susie le Good, Director, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Will Sandy, Founding Director, Will Sandy Design Studio

 

 

The Pineapples Awards 2026 is proudly sponsored by Vestre and Tectonix, who share a commitment to bringing communities together in places that truly thrive. 

 

Find out more: For all entry enquiries, contact kimberley@thedeveloper.live. To find out more about sponsoring the awards, contact James at james@thedeveloper.live or check out the sponsorship pack. 

 

 

2026 Key dates

• August 2025: 2026 call for entries opens - Enter now
• 9 October 2025: Early bird entry deadline
• 21 November 2025: Final entry deadline
• January 2026: Shortlist announcement 
• 24-26 February 2026: Festival of Pineapples, live judging presentations 
• April 2026: Pineapples awards night
• May 2026: Publication of all The Pineapples finalists and winners in The Developer magazine
• 10 June: Selected entries present on The Pineapples stage at Festival of Place

 

Information

• Prices: Early bird entries at £240 and standard rate £340, with all payments subject to VAT
• Categories: 16 categories to choose from
• Help: Contact kimberley@thedeveloper.live for information

 

Download the full criteria, entry questions and requirements