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8 Nov 06Poole Pride of Place Awards 2006
Poole has proved that it is doing its part in encouraging energy conservation and sustainable construction as Seldown Eco-Village collected the Poole Pride of Place, Sustainability Award for 2006.
Seldown Eco-Village is an affordable housing development of 85 houses and flats, close to Poole town centre and won the Sustainability Award for its use of sustainable materials and construction techniques, and eco friendly heating and other services.
A Pride of Place award also went to a very different housing project by Seven Developments 
called “Thunderbird”, a spectacular new house in Branksome Park, illustrating the vast range of high quality residential developments being built in Poole at the moment.
The awards were presented by Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs. Judy Butt, at the Peacock Art Gallery, in Upton Country Park. She was joined by the judging panel made up of Neil Bichard, Chair of the Dorset Branch of the RIBA , David Barnes, architect of Genesis Design Studio and David Bunt, Environment Manager with the Environment Agency . “Design Champion”, Cllr Mrs Stribley was also on the judging panel but not present at the awards.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole on presenting the awards, said: “The Seldown project demonstrates that good design and good sustainable development isn’t just for the rich and famous – it can be for everyone. By contrast, the “Thunderbird” property encourages young people to aspire to something similarly special for themselves.”
Accepting the award for Seldown Eco-Village, on behalf of Western Challenge Housing Group , the developers of the scheme, Hugh Lambourne said: “this scheme has proved to us that the use of modern technology to produce sustainable, low energy, affordable housing costs no more than traditional construction.”
The scheme achieved an impressive “Excellent” eco Homes rating and has already been recognised as an exemplar for low cost, low energy housing development on a regional and national scale. The scheme is well linked to the town and contains a community facility and a car club.
Louise White and Dave Roberts also collected the Pride of Place award on behalf of Seven Developments’ Managing Director, Eddie Mitchell, for “Thunderbird”, designed by Mr Mitchell in the leafy surroundings of Branksome Park.
Commendations were also awarded to:
· a restoration of a small communal garden at Canford Sheltered Housing Scheme on Canford Heath. Residents raised a Lottery Grant of £3,000 to transform their communal space to an outside room for all to share. Resident, Terry Carney, who was key to the success of the project, was there to pick up the award
· a split-level, modern house in Branksome Park. Tim Moxey, of Moxey Associates was there to pick up the award
· the Council’s Cygnet Play Area in Poole Park, designed by Floyd Matcham Landscape Architects. Paul Matcham accepted the award.
Cllr Ann Stribley, Design Council for the Borough of Poole said: “we were looking for buildings or landscape schemes that make the greatest contribution to the quality and appearance of the public realm in Poole, and which will act as benchmarks for the level of quality and design that Poole expects to see delivered.”
John Biggs, Team Leader Urban Design, Planning Services, Borough of Poole on tel 01202 633331
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