Second round of nominations now open for Buckinghamshire Design Awards

The Awards highlight new places and spaces across Buckinghamshire that make significant contributions to the design quality of the built and natural environment. The Awards also help encourage landowners and developers to deliver better places to live and work – and for nature to thrive.

The first round of nominations were received between July and September 2022, and the council has now launched a second round of nominations, open for submissions from 17 April until 4 June 2023.

Different kinds of places can be nominated in one or more categories, which are:

• Attractive town centres
• Beautiful public parks and communal gardens
• Fun spaces for play and sports

• New life for old buildings
• Historic parks and gardens
• Heritage tourism

• Funky architecture
• Designed for disabilities
• Clever conversions and retrofitting

• Welcoming social and cultural spaces
• Great places to live
• Wonderful workplaces

• Great cycling and walking facilities
• Beautiful streets
• Bus/rail routes and stations

• Making space for nature/wild places
• Low energy/water use
• Using reclaimed/recycled materials

After nominations close on 4 June, the council will draw up a shortlist of submitted projects to be published on Your Voice Bucks.

A judging panel will then review the shortlisted projects in the summer and select winners in each category. Members of the public will be invited to look at the shortlist online and vote for an overall winner – the People’s Choice Award.

Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said:

“Bucks residents deserve great places to live and work, as well as a healthy environment everyone can enjoy, and good design can help deliver this.

“The Buckinghamshire Design Awards celebrate the best examples of good design in the county. They aim to raise the standards for future built development and land management in Buckinghamshire.

“If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to nominate your favourite new building or open space in the county by going to Your Voice Bucks. Just make sure you submit your nomination by the closing date of Sunday 4 June.”

Judging and voting will take place from July to mid-September 2023 and all award winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in October 2023.