The Kent Design & Development Awards 2014, recognising the design excellence of the county’s property and construction industry, were launched at the Kent Construction Expo on Wednesday 6 November.
Jointly organised and sponsored by DHA Planning, Kent County Council, and PR and marketing agency Maxim, the 2014 Kent Design & Development Awards, are celebrating their 10th anniversary.
“Given the current economic improvement, and the fact that the county’s property industry is showing positive signs of reawakening, there is a lot to celebrate in Kent,” said Cllr Mark Dance, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Economic Development of Kent County Council.
He added: “These awards are an excellent example of partnership between ourselves and the property industry to help showcase Kent’s built environment.”
Alex Hicken, Director at DHA Planning, based in Maidstone, said: “There are a lot of exciting development projects coming forward across the length and breadth of Kent, and we are confident that we will exceed last year’s 94 entries and break the 100 mark for the 2014 Awards.”
There are five categories to enter, each giving the opportunity to demonstrate how professionals in the built environment are using their skills to develop and regenerate the county.
The categories include: Civils and Infrastructure; Commercial, Industrial and Retail; Environmental Performance; Public Buildings – Education & Community; and Residential – Minor and Major.
The winners of the five categories will go forward to compete for the Project of the Year trophy, sponsored by DHA Planning, which will be awarded to the building or scheme with the greatest level of design quality in Kent.
DHA Planning, Kent County Council and Maxim are joined in delivering the Awards by CTP Consulting Engineers; Kent Construction Focus Group; Liberty Property Trust UK, developers of Kings Hill; and construction and cost management consultants The Woodley Coles LLP.
The deadline for entering the Kent Design & Development Awards 2014 via www.kent.gov.uk/designawards is 16 June 2014. The judging panel will then shortlist the entries before the Awards ceremony, which will be held in November next year.