Who and What Can Enter?

Nominations are welcome from anyone – including developers, property owners, and those directly connected to the scheme/property, such as residents, tenants, staff, and owners.
Judges are not permitted to nominate projects, but are permitted to encourage public nominations.

Nominations are welcome that meet one or more of the following categories:

  • LOCAL + LANDSCAPE
  • CLIMATE + SUSTAINABILITY
  • STREETS + PUBLIC SPACES  

If you don’t know which category your nomination best falls in to – don’t panic! Judges will consider which criteria are applicable to a scheme, even if you’re unsure.


The scheme must exist within our area of benefit, namely: Beeston, Attenborough, Bramcote, Chilwell or Toton.

Completion Date

For 2025 entries, schemes must be completed between 31 July 2023 and 1 June 2025 – this includes any surrounding areas, landscaping and car parking which form part of the design. 

Opening/Closing Date

The 2025 application round will open on 31 March 2025 and close on 31 July 2025. 

Visibility

Schemes must be visible to the public – it must be possible to see externally most of it, all year round, from a road, footpath or other public thoroughfare. Private buildings that are regularly used by large numbers of people, for instance schools or commercial buildings, are considered visible.

Assessment Process

Wherever possible, at the first stage of assessment, entries will be visited by the Judging Panel in person.

Judges are volunteers who generously donate their time, knowledge and expertise to support the Design Awards scheme. They come from many disciplines such as architecture, universal design/access, community groups, conservation, planners, landscaping, sustainability, and transport. 

Judges visit a scheme and use their professional knowledge and expertise alongside the National Design Guide’s 10 principles (see page 12) to award a score to a nomination. A judge will consider which of the 10 criteria are applicable to a scheme – regardless of which category it has been entered under.

Feedback and recommendations, as well as all application materials submitted, is then ratified by the Judging Panel. The shortlist is announced, and from these the category and Overall winners are chosen.

The People’s Choice award is decided by nominations cast by the deadline closure of the awards.

The scheme should be available to be visited at any time.

Disclosure

Should relevant circumstances come to light that had not been known at the time of judging an award may be withheld.

Final Decision

The decision of the Judging Panel is final. The Panel do not enter into any correspondence regarding the decision. 

Winning Projects 

All commended and winning projects will be presented with a certificate. 

The overall Winner, and People’s Choice Winner will each receive a plaque for permanent display.