Published: Wednesday, 21st September 2022
Local architectural excellence and craftsmanship was celebrated last night. The Mayor’s Design Awards winners were announced at a special ceremony held at King’s Lynn Town Hall.
The awards, sponsored by KL Magazine, had an initial 72 entries and 52 site visits that were shortlisted down to 35 nominated schemes for awards in ten categories.
Mayor of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Cllr Lesley Bambridge, said:
"The awards ceremony was a great evening, a celebration of our push for better design and innovation and construction standards across our borough. We've worked closely with architects, contractors, developers, and their clients to achieve this aim, and we are glad to reward buildings and schemes that illustrate this focus on quality and innovation.
“It was a pleasure to visit the many schemes across west Norfolk. I was very pleased to present the Mayor's Gold Award, the three nominees were all stunning in their own right but the winner, Northwold Manor, has been restored to an incredible level. The work undertaken on the Grade II listed 17th Century manor house has taken seven years using skilled craftsman and sympathetic alterations have been made including the resurrection of the 1814 orangery re-using the space as a library. The work undertaken has hugely improved this important house and the historic core of the village.”
Hannah Wood-Handy, Planning Control Manager at the borough council, said:
"We had more entries than ever before with a good mix of traditional and contemporary buildings, which made the judges' job in selecting the winners extremely hard.
"Over 100 people attended our ceremony to recognise and celebrate the high quality design and workmanship which make west Norfolk such a wonderfully interesting and diverse place to be.”
Steven King, the borough council's Conservation Officer, added:
“From a conservation perspective it was immensely pleasing to see such a high level of craftsmanship throughout all of the building trades, but especially in respect of the various historic buildings where the skills in the use of traditional materials is key. Well done to everyone involved and special congratulations to our winners."
All this year’s entries have been scrutinised by the judging panel, which comprises The Mayor, Cllr Vivienne Spikings, chair of the Planning Committee, Cllr Carol Bower vice-chair of the Planning Committee, Steven King, Conservation Officer, Jane Forder, Conservation Support Officer and Hannah Wood-Handy, Planning Control Manager.
The winners of the 2022 Mayor's Design Awards are:
Small Residential Development
Winner: Torrey Meadows, Heacham
Highly Commended: Sherwood Close, Downham Market
Single New Build Property
Winner: 8A Park Hill, Dersingham
Highly Commended: The Old Garden, Hunstanton and 10 New Street, King’s Lynn
Residential Extensions
Winner: Sussex Farm Road, Burnham Market
Highly Commended: Easterly Lodge, Ringstead
Community Schemes
Winner: Wereham Village Hall
Highly Commended: Brancaster Village Hall
Shopfronts
Winner: The Tipsy Teapot
Business Scheme
Winner: No. Twenty 9, Burnham Market
Highly Commended: Thornham Deli
Town Centre Regeneration
Winner: 9-11 St James Street, King’s Lynn
Highly Commended: 18-20 Railway Road, King’s Lynn
Conversion Scheme
Winner: The Water Tower, Castle Acre
Highly Commended: Duration Brewery, West Acre
Craftsmanship Winner
Winner: Northwold Manor
Highly Commended: Wereham Village Hall
The Mayor’s Gold Award
Winner: Northwold Manor