The Civic Voice Design Awards 2018 is open for applications, with Civic Voice highlighting categories that include showing how ‘new development can enhance a conservation area’, and the ceremony to be held in The Leadenhall Building, the second tallest building in the City of London.
Civic Voice writes:
Civic Voice has… officially opened the Civic Voice Design Awards 2018 by encouraging communities from across England to nominate schemes that are of high quality design and help enhance conservation areas and other parts of our towns, cities and villages across England.
Max Farrell, Partner at Farrells and Chair of the Civic Voice Design Awards judging panel said: ‘We look forward to seeing the very best in new build, housing, heritage, public realm and open space projects as nominated by communities across England. And continuing Civic Voice’s Big Conservation Conversation to make the case for conservation areas, there will also be a special prize again this year for an outstanding development within a Conservation Area, which could be awarded from any category. The judges will be looking for excellence in terms of high quality of design and construction and community participation and engagement throughout, we call upon all communities to start nominating!’
Ian Harvey, Executive Director for Civic Voice added: ‘We are delighted to open the Civic Voice Design Awards a day after Heritage Counts 2017 is released. New evidence gathered for Heritage Counts 2017 shows that conservation area designation isn’t about preventing change. It’s about preserving and enhancing the distinctive character of a local area. They are places people want to live in because conservation area designation ensures careful consideration is given to the design of new development and how it harmonises with its surroundings. In 2017 we presented special awards to Cedars Hall, Wells; Sunbridge Wells, Bradford; and Warwick Hall Community Centre, Burford all for being visionary projects enhancing conservation areas across England. We look forward to seeing more in 2018.’
Laura Sandys Civic Voice Vice-President said: ‘Conservation areas form a vital part of England’s historic environment covering 2,938 sq. km or 2.2% of land and providing homes for over 6.8 million people. The research commissioned for Heritage Counts 2017 looks at how conservation areas can contribute to good growth and reveals the positive impact that can be achieved. This doesn’t surprise us as over 80 civic societies across England organise their own local design award scheme and regularly share with us the best of what is happening. It is why we are running the awards once again and we are delighted that we will again have the support of Farrells and Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners.’
Max Farrell finished by saying: ‘Communities are demanding more of a say in what is happening in their local area. Through these awards we are showing how some communities are already working with partners with a shared vision for a better built and historic environment, sadly this is the exception, not the norm. Through the Civic Voice Design Awards we are going to help make it the norm’.
Remember, the scheme being submitted needs to have been completed in the 2 year period between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2017.
