28/05/10 - Rewarding good design

As regeneration in the city continues to help build Gloucester as a 21^st century location a competition is seeking to reward examples of the best designs.

Nominations are being sought for the 2010 Gloucester Civic Awards for any project built during the last two years.

The city council has teamed up with the Civic Trust, the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Trust  (GHURC) and the Citizen newspaper to reward the highest standards of design and architecture around the city.

There are seven categories:

·                    Best new building or extension

·                    Best major restoration or sensitive conversion

·                    Best minor restoration or sensitive conversion

·                    Best new or improved shopfront

·                    Most improved public area

·                    Best housing scheme

·                    Best climate friendly scheme

Developments must be within the city boundaries and must not have been nominated for the last awards in 2008.

City Council Leader, Paul James, commented: “Gloucester is rapidly becoming the place to live, work and do business. There has been an enormous amount of regeneration in the city and we have some fine examples of building and environmental improvement projects.  This competition seeks to reward the skill and vision of those people who are helping us become a modern 21^st century city.”

Robin Morris, chairman of the Gloucester Civic Trust said: “ The pace of regeneration in Gloucester has been such over the last  two years that we believe there are plenty of contenders for this popular competition since we last held it in 2008”

Chris Oldershaw, Chief Executive of GHURC, said: “Celebrating the best in urban design and architecture will boost Gloucester’s national appeal, bringing much-needed attention to this historic city.”

Full details and nomination forms are available on the city council website at www.gloucester.gov.uk/civicawards. Everyone who submits a nomination will be entered into a prize draw for a £30.00 book token. Closing date for nominations is June 4.

Winners and commendations will be announced at an award ceremony in the civic suite at North Warehouse on July 21.

END

28th May 2010