Wokingham

Local Wokingham residents, businesses and organisations have just over a month to get their nominations in for a competition to promote good design and sustainable development within the Wokingham district.

Sponsored by Wokingham district council chairman Cllr Angus Ross, the competition invites anyone to nominate a single building or extension or larger development for one or more of the six categories that show the building is well designed. The categories are:

* single house or house extension
* development of two or more houses
* commercial development
* community development
* rural development and conservation award for development in a conservation area or on a listed building

Wokingham District Council looks to promote environmentally-friendly construction, including the use of renewable materials, energy sources and high-spec insulation. There will be a further award made to the nomination which highlight the best example of this.

Cllr Angus Ross said: “Good design will improve the quality of life within the Wokingham district and help make growth sustainable. I am delighted to be sponsoring this competition to promote better-designed buildings that fit into their local context around the district’s diverse towns, villages and countryside. Developers must be encouraged to respect our district’s character and heritage and I hope this will persuade them to do so.”

The development nominated must be located in the Wokingham district and must have been completed since January 2000. There is no entry fee and interested people can download the entry form from the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk or by calling Sonia Lawlor on (0118) 974 6004. All nominees must provide a photo and, if possible plans, plus a statement supporting the nomination. Current owners of the building or development must also be notified. Closing date for nominations is Thursday November 30.

Judging will take place during the winter, with the panel comprising two professional architects – Andrew Plumridge, architect from Peter Scott and Partners and Geoff Noble, head of design review at SE Regional Design Panel - Cllr Angus Ross and the council’s historic environment champion Cllr Annette Drake. Cllr Ross added: “I am grateful for the commitment of my fellow judges and we are looking forward to reviewing the entries over the winter.”

The winning entries will be announced and prizes awarded at a special ceremony at the civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham on April 3, 2007. Cllr Ross said: “I am hoping that many people will attend this high profile special ceremony and a special glossy brochure will be produced to show the best design in the district since 2000.” A display of the winning entries will also be on display in the Mall Gallery for a further week.

Wokingham District Council