Design developments celebrated

Brent Miller from Pinnacle Homes and Paul Clark from CJ Partnership receiving their award from Mayor Godson
Rochdale Borough Design Award – The Pavilion, Birtle Brook Village, Birtle

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The winners of the Rochdale Borough Design Awards have been announced.

The awards, now in their third year, are part of a bid to promote good design in new developments in the borough.

The winners were presented with their awards by the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Alan Godson, at a celebration event at the Rochdale Town Hall.

Winners:

• Rochdale Borough Design Award – The Pavilion, Birtle Brook Village, Birtle
• Rochdale Borough People’s Design Award – The Golden Mosque Islamic Cultural Centre, Rochdale
• Special Award for Regeneration – Mike Goldrick Window Blinds, Heywood

Mayor Godson said: “I think they are all very good. They are brilliant, they really are.”

Paul Clark of CJ Partnership, who designed The Pavilion at Birtle Brook Village, said: “It is a privilege to get any award but especially to be recognised in my own town. We have won a national award for this, for over 50s housing, so it is really good that people are coming to Rochdale to see what we are doing.”

Brent Miller from Pinnacle Homes who had the initial idea for Birtle Brook Village, said he felt "very happy" to win.

Adding: “It is nice to be recognised in Rochdale. We try to put what you might expect to see down south up here in Rochdale.”

Mahmood Esmail the architect behind the Golden Mosque Islamic Cultural Centre, said he was “very proud” to be recognised.

He added: “We wanted to stretch the boundaries for the benefit of the community and I was satisfied with what we achieved, but for it to be recognised and for a non Muslim to pick up on that is fantastic.”

Tahir Mahmood, who was part of the team behind the Golden Mosque Islamic Cultural Centre, added: “This award recognises all the hard work the community has done for the project, who have been involved financially and in all the day to day running, the community will be very proud.”

Mike Goldrick, of Mike Goldrick Window Blinds, said: “We are really quite pleased. It is great for Heywood, especially because it is in the centre – it is a great achievement.”

Peter Rowlinson, Director of Planning at Rochdale Council said that the number of people voting in the awards has increased year on year. In the first year just 80 people voted, last year around 120/130 people voted and this year a staggering 500 people have voted.

Geoff Saynor, Regional Development Manager for Sir Robert McAlpine, the sponsors for the awards and the company building the new municipal offices, said: “We recognise the importance of all of the schemes and the process is one I enjoyed being part of. Hopefully our involvement in Rochdale will bring as big a benefit as each of your schemes.”