2024 Quality of Place awards
We are now accepting nominations for the 2024 Quality of Place Awards. The nomination deadline is Friday June 28th 2024.
Entry is free and is made by completing the online Quality of Place Awards nomination form, found at the bottom of this page.
Introduction
The Quality of Place Awards were introduced by Suffolk Coastal District Council in 2010 to recognise and encourage an interest in the quality of the built and natural environment of our district. From 2019, with the formation of the new East Suffolk Council, the Quality of Place Awards have been extended across the whole East Suffolk Council Area. After a successful Awards period last year, which ended with a well-attended Presentation Ceremony at Castle Community Rooms in Framlingham, we are now starting this year’s Awards.
There is a need for high standards in all forms of design, including planning, architecture, sustainable development, ecology, landscape design and community engagement.
Therefore, we are inviting nominations in 6 categories:
- Design – New Build
- Design – Extensions and Alterations
- Building Conservation
- Community
- Landscape
- Nature/Ecology
Projects can be submitted in more than one category.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an award, the project must:
- be within the East Suffolk Council area,
- have been completed within the last two years for Design, Building Conservation and Community categories,
- have been completed within the last five years for the Nature and Landscape category,
- have all necessary planning permission/listed building consent/building regulations approval, etc.
How to enter
Applications can be submitted using the online nomination form, found at the bottom of this page.
The nomination form requires the following information:
Contact details:
- Details of the nominator (name, contact information, relation to the project)
- Details of the owner(s) (name, contact information)
- If the nominator is not the owner, confirmation of the owner’s permission
Project Information:
- Project name (this can be a nickname)
- Project address
- Project type
- How does the project meet the nomination criteria? (see below)
- A list of key professionals involved with the project
Photographs:
- A minimum of 5 and up to 10 JPEG images, (ideally a minimum of 1980 pixels wide)
- Please upload each image as a separate JPEG, not in a word document or pdf, as they may be used for publicity purposes
- Include the photographer credit for each image
- First impressions count and so it is important that you sell your scheme to the judges; include exterior and interior shots of buildings, in use if possible; include wide shots of the project in context; etc.
If you have any problems filling in the online form, please contact the Design and Heritage Team at qualityofplaceawards@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.
Nomination Criteria
The judges will assess whether the project demonstrates:
Design - New build
- Innovation and originality in its design
- A clear design intent and vision
- A response to sustainability issues (environmental and economic)
- High quality of materials and detailing
- A generous response to its context, including to the public realm (where relevant)
Design - Extensions/Alterations
- A clear design intent and vision
- A response to sustainability issues (environmental and economic)
- High quality of materials and detailing
- A fit-for-purpose response to the brief
- An appropriate response to its context, particularly to the host building
Building Conservation
- A good understanding and use of conservation principles
- Use of appropriate conservation approaches and techniques
- Quality of materials and craftsmanship
- An enhancement of the heritage asset’s significance, including setting
- A ‘whole building’ approach to sustainability and conservation
Community
- Community engagement in design, development and delivery
- A contribution to a sense of local identity
- A response to the local social context
- Positive impacts on the community
- Legacy and lasting benefits
Landscape
- An understanding of local landscape character and sensitive response to its setting
- A design approach that includes resilience to a changing climate
- A sustainable approach to management
- High quality materials and detailing
- Positive impacts on biodiversity
Nature/Ecology
- A significant enhancement of existing high value ecological receptors (plant and animal species, habitats or ecosystems)
- Significant positive impacts for biodiversity, suited to the local habitat character
- Secure long-term management
- (For species specific projects) Enhancement for species of local or national conservation importance
- Opportunities for biodiversity-related education
Judging
After the closing date the nominations will be assessed in the following stages:
Stage 1 - A panel of judges, comprising a representative from the council, historic buildings experts, local architects, natural environment experts, and a representative from a local amenity society, will meet to consider the schemes and compile a shortlist.
Stage 2 - Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to arrange a site visit by the panel of judges.
Stage 3 – The judging panel will deliberate following the site visits and determine the winning and highly commended schemes in each category.
Awards
The winners will be invited to the award presentation ceremony and presented with a commemorative bronze plaque and certificate. This is an informal evening event with the winners, judges, ward councillors, council officers and interested members of the public. The results of the awards are published on our website as well as in the local press.
Make a nomination
Make a nomination online.