A public park makeover, café, eco-home, temple, and the restoration of a 570-year-old timber house are among the exciting mix of projects shortlisted for a prestigious South Downs Design Award.
More than 60 nominations were received across Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex for the National Park’s award scheme that celebrates outstanding design, architecture and innovation.
Sixteen unique projects have been shortlisted by judges and are now in with a chance of winning a stunning trophy, beautifully hand-carved in South Downs oak by acclaimed West Sussex-based sculptor, Alison Crowther.
Among those shortlisted are the restoration of a river, a glasshouse, a school extension and many more.
A judging panel, which includes members of the National Park’s Design Review Panel, will visit each shortlisted site and decide the winner in each category: Residential; Non-residential, Landscape and Conservation.
The public can also vote for their favourite out of the 16 for an overall “People’s Choice” award, with voting now open.
All the winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony, to be held at the South Downs Centre, itself a converted Victorian school, in Midhurst on October 2.
Mike Hughes, Planning Director (Interim) for the National Park Authority, said: “I want to thank everyone who nominated and it’s been a really difficult task to shortlist as the calibre was so high.
“We’ve got an incredible mix of projects that show how diverse the built environment is in the South Downs, which is by far the most populated of any National Park in the UK and is a place where people, nature and history come together.
“Many of the projects incorporate first-class biodiversity and climate change mitigations, while others showcase design innovation that creates wonderful living spaces or the amazing restorations of extremely old buildings.
“Other projects show the vision for the future to continue enhancing this treasured landscape.
“I’m looking forward to finding out the public’s favourite and I would invite everyone to find out more about each project.”
The last South Downs Design Awards were held in 2019.
The shortlisted projects for 2024 are:
Residential category
Black Timber House, Rodmell, East Sussex
Hocking House, Petersfield, Hampshire
Lannings Way, Midhurst, West Sussex
The Mile House, Amberley, West Sussex
Non-residential category
Handlebar Café, Winchester, Hampshire
New Temple Complex, Liss, Hampshire
Prince’s Mead School Extension, Winchester, Hampshire
Landscape Category
Cockshut Stream Restoration, Lewes, East Sussex.
Wallands Community Primary School Raingarden, Lewes, East Sussex
Woolbeding Glasshouse, Woolbeding, West Sussex
Wild Park, Brighton, East Sussex
Conservation category
The Dower House, Chawton, Hampshire
The Restoration of Stanmer Park, Falmer, East Sussex
Tote Hill Barn, Stedham, West Sussex
Wiston Estate Winery, Washington, West Sussex
Chalk-based Renovation, Remediation and Regeneration (Shoreham Cement Works), West Sussex
Find out more and vote in “The People’s Choice” at www.southdowns.gov.uk/landscape-design-conservation/design-in-the-south-downs/awards/peoples-choice/
Voting closes at midnight on September 6.
