Residents urged to share their ambitions for Pennine Lancashire as part of international competition
30 October 2008
Residents in Pennine Lancashire are being urged to share their hopes and ambitions for the area as part of an international design competition.
Organisers of the Pennine Lancashire Squared competition, which is set to create unique and high profile public spaces in Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn, Bacup, Clitheroe and Nelson, are encouraging residents to attend drop-in sessions and site visits in each of the towns as part of the competition.
A total of 25 landscape architecture and architecture teams have been short-listed from 78 Expressions of Interest. However, before the teams start work on their initial designs, a series of site visits and drop-in sessions will take place in November to find out what people would like to see in their town.
The competition, run by the Landscape Institute, was commissioned by Elevate, a regeneration agency working with partners from the public and private sectors to improve the housing market in Pennine Lancashire. The competition is the brainchild of Yvette Livesey and her late partner, music mogul Anthony H Wilson.
Site visits and drop-in sessions will take place in each of the six towns over the course of a week from November 22 until November 28. All site visits will be led by Stephen Hodder MBE, chair of the judging panel, along with representatives of each local authority. The drop-in sessions will provide an opportunity for residents to meet each of the design teams prior to the initial plans being developed. Residents will be asked what they are looking for in the designs and hopes for their towns.
The 26 design teams will develop initial designs by January 16 2009. The designs will then go on exhibition for public consultation throughout February 2009 and six local judging panels - one for each district – will meet in March to select each winner.
The Landscape Institute, the chartered body for landscape architects, is running the competition, with the support of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The competition has received funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and is being implemented by the Boroughs of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, with support from Lancashire County Council. CABE Space is providing ongoing support for the development of Pennine Lancashire Squared.
For more details, visit www.penninelancashire.com/landscape.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Landscape Institute is the professional body and regulator for landscape architecture. Under its Royal Charter the Landscape Institute is charged with protecting, conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public.
Media contacts:
James Gosling, Media and Public Relations Officer
T: 020 7299 4528
E: jamesg@landscapeinstitute.org
Paul Lincoln, Director of Communications and Marketing
T: 020 7299 4500
E: paull@landscapeinstitute.org
