Exciting shortlist announced as public poll opens for coveted awards

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 can also vote for their favourite out of the 16 for an overall “People’s Choice” award, with voting now open.

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 2nd 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 change mitigations, 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 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” at www.southdowns.gov.uk/landscape-design-conservation/design-in-the-south-downs/awards/peoples-choice/

Voting will close at midnight on 6th September.