Broadland: Council’s Design and Enhancement Awards are now open

Has a property near you been transformed from a rundown eyesore to an exciting new use? If so, Broadland District Council would like to hear about it.

The awards are in two categories: the Design Awards and the Enhancement Awards.

The Design Awards are for new houses or developments that have been completed within the last two years. The designs should make a positive contribution to their local area and the developers and designers should have made an exceptional effort to raise the design standard in Broadland. Nominations will be judged on their scale, design, use of sympathetic and sustainable materials and the way in which they sit with neighbouring properties or within a landscape. Previous winners have ranged from a contemporary housing development at Manor Reach in Sprowston to a sustainable new house near to the listed church at Weston Longville.

The Enhancement Awards are for existing buildings that have been converted, altered, repaired or extended. The building must enhance the local area and the work to the building should respect the character, scale, design and materials of, or represent a considerable improvement to the original building. Previous winners include contemporary but sympathetic extensions to houses and also projects to bring historic buildings back into use such as the unusual Octagon Barn events venue in Little Plumstead.

The Awards Panel, consisting of Broadland District Councillors, will judge the winners which will be announced in the autumn. The winners will then be invited to the Community at Heart Awards on 15th October to collect their award

Cllr Karen Vincent, Chair of the Awards Panel at Broadland District Council said

“These awards celebrate the type of buildings that make a positive contribution to the local area and raise the design standard in Broadland, whether it’s an impressive new dwelling or an existing property that has been beautifully enhanced. Help us celebrate the hard work and ingenuity that goes into creating award-worthy structures by submitting a nomination today.”

To enter you will need to submit eight photographs to show the building/s and a short statement (no more than 100 words) as to why you consider that the building/s should get the award.

Judging will take place in September and is planned to involve a site visit by the council’s heritage and design officer followed by presentation to members, with potentially an external site visit of the design award entries by members of the awards committee if restrictions allow and subject to owner’s consent.

Please send your nominations to chris.bennett@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk . The deadline for receiving nominations is Monday August 16th .

If you have any queries regarding your entry please contact Chris Bennett on 01508 533828