Search is on for borough's best new developments

Matthew Moss High School

Do you have a favourite new building or regeneration project in the borough? It may have a particularly unusual and striking design, blend in well with its surroundings or have innovative ‘green’ features. It could be a user-friendly community development.

Whatever you like about the building, public space, conservation or regeneration project, Rochdale Borough Council wants to know. The annual Rochdale Borough Design Awards celebrate the best in new development design, focusing on the relationship between good design and building successful communities.

The winner of the 2012 ‘Rochdale Borough Design Award’ was Matthew Moss High School, in recognition of the way the school had been completely transformed and its positive impact on the local community.

The Old Simpson House in Heywood won the ‘People’s Design Award’, after pulling nearly five hundred public votes, and the Sustainable Development Award was won by Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College in Milnrow.

This year, as well as celebrating their fifth birthday, the awards welcome a new sponsor – new home developer, Countryside Properties.

There will be three awards - the Rochdale Borough Design Award and the Sustainable Development Award, decided by a panel of experts, together with the People’s Design Award, decided by an online public vote. The judges may also decide to make additional awards.

Suggestions for the 2013 awards are welcome now, and you have until 28 October to make your nomination. To be eligible, the development must have been completed since January 2012 or be very close to completion. Eligible nominated developments will be considered for a shortlist which will go forward for the judges’ awards and for the public vote for the People’s Award.

John Jones, Design Director at Countryside Properties, one of this year’s judges, said Countryside is very pleased to sponsor the awards: “A commitment to sustainability coupled with excellent design really is at the heart of our business and is what stands us apart from other house builders. We’ve developed a number of high-quality housing developments in and around Rochdale and feel it is important to recognise and promote first-class new build projects in order to continue to raise design standards across the borough.”

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development added: “It is very positive to see how these awards are growing each year and their success illustrates just how much regeneration and improvement to our environment is taking place.

"The awards are part of the council’s commitment to recognising design excellence in new buildings and regeneration schemes, and since 2009 we have highlighted some of the very best.

"Once again I expect to see an interesting variety of nominations and the judging panel will have some difficult decisions to make.”

All kinds of developments can be nominated, including individual buildings, open spaces, conservation schemes and regeneration projects.

To nominate a development download the nomination form via the link below.

Alternatively write to Rochdale Borough Design Awards, Rochdale Borough Council, Strategic Planning, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU.

The nomination form includes details of the judging criteria.

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