Exciting shortlist announced as public poll opens for South Downs Design Awards
August 19, 2024
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 will also get to vote for their favourite out of the 16 for an overall “People’s Choice” award.
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 2 October.
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 enhancements, 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 have a good look at the brochure 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” here
Voting will close at midnight on 6 September.