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 entries that have been commended or that have won the award include both contemporary and traditionally designed bespoke houses, groups of houses, sustainably designed commercial property and a new sports facility.

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 entries that have been commended or that have won the award include contemporary and traditional extensions, repurposed buildings for new uses such as barns into houses and former shop into a café, tapas bar, pizza bar and b&b , and a community use restoring an historic walled garden.

Caroline Karimi-Ghovanlou, Chairwoman of Broadland District Council said “Broadland District Councils Design and Enhancement Awards are looking for unique builds or enhancements to buildings that are challenging and push the boundaries of contemporary innovation.

If you know of such a building in Broadland using experimental or traditional methods of construction, and which takes into account the needs of the local environment and community, we would love to hear from you.”

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 a site visit of the shortlisted entries by members of the awards committee.

Please send your nominations to chris.bennett@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk . The deadline for receiving nominations is Monday 7 August