Awards scheme searches for New Forest’s best new buildings

Now the New Forest National Park Authority has launched a search for the best new developments in the area, with new buildings, larger developments and extensions eligible for an award.

This is the second annual Building Design Awards, after last year’s awards proved very popular, attracting 20 nominations for new developments across the Forest.

Around 1,000 planning applications are submitted in the National Park each year – 88 per cent of which are approved – and the awards scheme is another way to highlight the importance of good design in the National Park.

Pat Wyeth, New Forest National Park Authority Planning Committee Chairman, said, “The New Forest is of course famous for its unique landscape, free roaming ponies and ancient traditions, but the area’s buildings also play a role in making the National Park so special.

“As the planning authority for the Park, we place a strong emphasis on maintaining and improving the local character of the area through our policies; through working with communities to define what makes their area special so we can protect it; and by providing detailed guidance to people before submitting planning applications. The Building Design Awards were a success last year and I look forward to seeing what schemes will be nominated this year.”

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

People are welcome to nominate their own buildings and awards will be given in the following categories:

• individual buildings
• extensions
• larger developments.

Nominations are open until 7 October 2016 and will be considered by a panel of National Park Authority members and staff, before the winners are announced in December 2016.

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