Planning Practice Note:
South Shropshire Design and Heritage Awards
INTRODUCTION
Many Councils make awards for good design and conservation. In some cases the awards are made by the local authority itself and sometimes in conjunction with a civic society or through some form of joint committee.
In 1990 it was suggested by Ludlow Town Council and Ludlow Civic Society that a Heritage Award Scheme for the Ludlow Conservation Area should be considered. The idea was supported and developed by the Ludlow Conservation Area Advisory Committee and the Council inaugurated the Ludlow Heritage Awards in that year.
It was suggested that the scheme should be extended to cover the whole of South Shropshire, but that would mean reducing the clear impact of the Ludlow Heritage Awards. Lack of resources was also a potential problem.
In 2004, it was decided to instigate a biennial Design and Heritage Award scheme for the rest of South Shropshire alternating with biennial Ludlow Heritage Awards:
- South Shropshire Design and Heritage Awards for the two years ending with an even-numbered year;
- Ludlow Heritage Awards for the two years ending with an odd numbered year.
THE PURPOSE OF THE DESIGN AND HERITAGE AWARDS
The Council receives a considerable number of applications for planning permission and listed building consent each year. Many of these are well-designed schemes, or at least uncontentious ones, and receive planning permission or listed building consent without significant comment.
On the other hand the design of others are unsatisfactory in some way and are refused consent or involve a considerable amount of negotiation at officer level to make them acceptable.
Furthermore, there are, annually, a number of instances where poor design or conservation work requires some form of enforcement action to be taken. Because it is these unsatisfactory applications and enforcement cases which receive the greatest public attention, there is a tendency to lose sight of all the good and positive design and conservation work being done in the District each year.
It is, therefore, the function of the South Shropshire Design and Heritage Awards to recognise the best quality schemes in District so as to publicise good design and conservation practice.
WHO MAKES THE HERITAGE AWARDS?
The Heritage Awards are made by the Council on the recommendation of a Panel (which will include members of the public) convened by the Council's Design and Heritage Champion. Anyone interested in participating in the work of the Panel should contact the Head of Planning (see contact list below).
Anyone may make suggestions for South Shropshire Design and Heritage Awards (see contact list below).
FOR WHAT ARE DESIGN AND HERITAGE AWARDS MADE?
South Shropshire Design and Heritage Awards are made for high quality schemes of new building, conservation, repair, improvement and enhancement. Specifically they can be for:
- new buildings;
- the repair or restoration of a listed building;
- the alteration, improvement or extension of a listed building or other building;
- urban design schemes;
- schemes meeting sustainability or resource conservation objectives;
- the improvement to external spaces such as conservation areas, streets, gardens and courtyards.
Any scheme which involves good design and which has improved the quality of the environment in the District is eligible for consideration.
WHEN ARE DESIGN AND HERITAGE AWARDS MADE?
- in 2007, South Shropshire Design and Heritage Awards will be made for schemes completed in 2005 and 2006;
- the Award ceremony will take place in December.
HOW MANY AWARDS ARE MADE?
There is no fixed limit on the number of Awards that are made. This will depend entirely on the standard of schemes being considered by the Panel.
WHAT DO THE DESIGN AND HERITAGE AWARDS CONSIST OF?
The Design and Heritage Awards are framed certificates. They are given to:
- the owner or client of the scheme;
- the architect or other designer;
- to the builder or craftsman who carried out the work.
SELECTING THE AWARD WINNERS
The Council has an annual programme of assessing the quality of outcomes of the planning process. It is intended to select a Design and Heritage Award shortlist as part of this process.
Canvass for nominations for awards
The first part of the process will be to prepare a list of projects, completed in the previous 2 years, for consideration. Suggestions will be sought from:
- Parish and Town Councils;
- civic and amenity societies;
- the public, following publicity in the media;
- internal Council sources including planning officers and Councillors.
Canvass for Panel members
Simultaneously there will be a public canvass for representatives of the public to take part in the work of the Panel. Anyone interested should contact the Head of Planning giving details of the experience they can offer the selection process. The Panel will be a balanced group of people from a variety of interests and backgrounds. Its membership will be decided by the Development Control Committee on recommendation of the Design and Heritage Champion's Group. The decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into over this.
Initial scrutiny of nominations
The 'long list' of nominated schemes will be scrutinised by the Panel which will make a short-list of suggested award winners. The meetings of the Panel will not be open to the public. This is to allow the Panel members to be frank about the merits and demerits of nominated schemes. The Panel will visit any of the schemes that it feels should be looked at before making a recommendation.
Panel Report
The Panel will issue a Report giving a short-list of schemes for the Development Control Committee to consider with its reasons for each recommendation.
Development Control Committee Review
The Council's Development Control Committee will visit all the short-listed schemes. Initial consideration of them will be held in private.
Formal decision
The formal decision on the schemes to receive awards will be made at one of the regular meetings of the Development Control Committee, which are held in public (see BVPN 37).
AWARD CEREMONY
The awards will be presented at an award ceremony, to which the owners, designers and builders will be invited and each of whom will receive a certificate.
CONTACTS
Head of Planning: Tel: (01584) 813334
Conservation Officer: Tel: (01584) 813355
E-mail: planning@southshropshire.gov.uk
© Copyright South Shropshire District Council,
Stone House, Corve Street, Ludlow,
Shropshire, SY8 1DG.
Tel: (01584) 813000
fax: (01584) 813128
e-mail: planning@southshropshire.gov.uk
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Planning and Building Control. Last Updated: 14/2/2007.
