Archived press release

Date Published: 12/04/07

Aylesbury Vale residents are being invited to put forward their favourite non-residential buildings in the district for a prestigious award. The AVDC Design Award scheme recognises and celebrates the best new buildings in the district and encoura...

Aylesbury Vale residents are being invited to put forward their favourite non-residential buildings in the district for a prestigious award.

The AVDC Design Award scheme recognises and celebrates the best new buildings in the district and encourages better design and construction.

Non-residential and residential projects are considered for the awards in alternate years. This year the council is seeking nominations for non-residential schemes such as factories, shops, offices and schools built in the district within the past four years.

Entries will be judged against a number of criteria, including how well they fit into their surroundings, quality of design and construction, sustainability, innovation and attractiveness.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in the autumn. The winning design will receive a plaque to be placed on the building and certificates will also be awarded to schemes which are judged to have reached a sufficiently high standard.

A panel of judges, including local councillors and representatives from CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment), RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) and the Architecture Centre will make the final selection.

Paul Acton, the council’s design champion, said: “The design of buildings affects us all, whether we work in them, visit them or pass them by. They affect our quality of life, the local economy and our appreciation and satisfaction with where we live, work and spend our leisure time. This awards scheme is a great opportunity to do something positive to encourage better building design by nominating the new buildings in the district which you think deserve recognition.”

Nominations are welcome from residents, town and parish councils, architects, designers and developers and must be received by 30 June.

Explanatory leaflets including nomination forms are available from libraries and community information points or you can download the forms from the council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk under News and Weather then Council News.

You can also get a nomination form from AVDC by calling Liz Petts on 01296 585437 or by emailing lpetts@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk