Local developments await design accolades

The waiting is nearly over for eight local developments shortlisted for Rochdale Borough Design Awards.

The winners of the fifth annual awards will be announced on Thursday 20 February during a ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall. They will be presented by Steve McIntyre, partner with architects Faulkner Browns and John Jones, Design Director at Countryside Properties.

Three awards will be made on the night, including the Rochdale Borough Design Award and the Sustainable Development Award, decided by a panel of experts, together with the People’s Design Award, decided by the public.

Owners and architects are now eagerly awaiting the results. Competing for the awards are: The Pioneers Museum, Rochdale; Holy Family College, Heywood; Kingsway Park High School, Rochdale; Brownhill Learning Community, Rochdale; Middleton Technology School, Middleton; the housing development at the corner of Waithlands Road and Grafton Street, Rochdale; The housing development at the corner of Longridge Drive and Ashford Street, Heywood; Maden’s Square housing development, Littleborough.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Customer Services at Rochdale Borough Council said the awards are a showcase for the high quality build and design in buildings around the borough:

“I am very pleased to see these eight outstanding shortlisted buildings in the borough, following on from Number One Riverside - the public library and council offices in Rochdale which has already won two prestigious awards. It really illustrates the quality of design we have ... every year the standard is improving, and I am proud to support these awards which help ensure high quality design is encouraged in the future.”

John Jones, Design Director at Countryside Properties added:

“We are delighted to be involved in the competition and particularly excited to see so many buildings that have made a difference to their community. We are committed to building first class, high quality projects so feel it is important to recognise, promote and raise design standards across the borough.”

Last year Matthew Moss High School won ‘The Rochdale Borough Design Award’ and The Old Simpson House in Heywood won the Peoples Design Award.