Nominate brilliant building designs in the New Forest National Park

Nominate brilliant building designs in the New Forest National Park

The New Forest National Park Authority is inviting nominations for its prestigious Building Design Awards 2024. 

The New Forest’s distinctive and attractive buildings and their setting in the landscape play an important role in the area’s unique character. The annual awards celebrate high-quality new developments and the contribution that good design makes to the Forest. 

The Authority is asking people to nominate their favourite building which has been completed in the last three years. Residential schemes, non-residential schemes, conservation projects and ‘green buildings’ are all eligible for an award. 

Now in their ninth year, the Awards have previously recognised a converted dairy building, a restored Victorian Ice House, the Peppa Pig building at Paulton’s Park, and the modern Lookout Café at Lepe – as well as many residential improvements with proportions and materials in keeping with their surroundings.  

Gordon Bailey, Chair of the New Forest National Park Authority’s Planning Committee said: ‘Through our planning policies, detailed design guidance and decisions, we’re constantly looking to support quality building design in the National Park. 

‘This is supported by our National Park Design Guide which we revised last year with a renewed focus on conserving local character, the climate emergency and sustainability. It also offers greater clarity and detail on sustainable construction, lighting and materials.’ 

He added: ‘Our role is to ensure new development is of a high quality and sympathetic to the nationally-important landscape. Our entries never fail to impress us, and the awards are testament to the positive contribution good development makes to the local built environment.’  

As the statutory planning authority for the 220 square miles of the New Forest National Park, the National Park Authority receives around 1,000 planning applications each year and typically approves more than 90% of these. 

Nominations can be made by anyone living in or visiting the New Forest and must be for a high-standard design within the National Park boundary that has been completed in the last three years. 

The NPA looks forward to receiving nominations from local residents, visitors, developers, professional agents and parish councils – and those nominating their own buildings. 

Nominations are invited in the following categories:

• Best residential scheme (household extensions, new homes, conversions to residential)
• Non-residential scheme (for example employment or educational sites, public buildings, visitor attractions)
• Best conservation project (extensions to a Listed Building, restoration of a Listed Building, repair of a Building at Risk)
• Best green building (showcasing sustainable construction and materials).

Nominations are open until 31 December 2023 and the winners will be chosen in the new year by a panel of members drawn from the National Park Authority’s Planning Committee. 

Submit your nomination at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/buildingawards 

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Main photo: Wood End House, winner of the Best Conservation Scheme category of the 2023 Building Design Awards. Photo credit Sheerin Bettle Architecture.