Cockermouth Shopfront Scheme shortlisted for national Civic
Trust award
The Cockermouth Shopfront Heritage Grant
Scheme has been shortlisted for a 2012 Civic Trust award.
Established in
1959, the Civic Trust award
scheme recognises the very best in architecture, urban design,
planning, landscape, public realm and public art. Shortlisted
projects are adjudged to have made an outstanding contribution to
the quality and appearance of the built environment, whilst
offering a positive social, cultural, environmental or economic
benefit to the local community. The Cockermouth scheme is
one of 52 shortlisted projects from over 300 national and
international entries.
In the aftermath of the 2009 floods Allerdale
Borough Council made grant funding available to owners of flooded
shops within the historic core of Cockermouth to help cover the
costs of replacing modern shopfronts with ones more in-keeping with
Cockermouth’s heritage. Delivered in partnership with Cockermouth
and District Civic Trust, Cockermouth Town Council, Cockermouth
Chamber of Trade, the National Trust and local architects Day
Cummins, Green Design Group and Red Raven Design, the scheme has
proven extremely popular with improvement works having been
completed to 24 properties to date.
Phil Campbell, Chairman of Cockermouth &
District Civic Trust, welcomed the news: “To be shortlisted for the
Civic Trust Awards, a competition that attracts international
entries, is high praise and recognition of the achievements
Cockermouth has made since the floods.
This, the second award for the shopfront
heritage scheme, reaffirms our belief that high quality,
thoughtful architecture is fundamental to a town’s survival
and is appreciated by visitors and residents alike. We hope
that reaching the shortlist for this prestigious award will
encourage more shops and building owners to recognise the benefits
that good design can deliver.”
Cllr. Mark Fryer, Allerdale Borough Council’s
Portfolio-Holder for Regeneration, added: “Credit for this award,
and the success of the scheme as a whole, must be given to those
local businesses in Cockermouth who embraced the vision of the
steering-group and invested in their shopfronts and signage. The
improvements brought about by the scheme are clear evidence of what
can be achieved when public and voluntary sector groups and private
businesses work well together. To be shortlisted for a Civic Trust
Award is great news and highlights how far Cockermouth has come
since November 2009.”
Speaking with regard to the judging process
Malcolm Hankey, Civic Trust Awards Managing Director, said: “All
domestic projects are visited and assessed on their architectural
excellence, sustainability credentials, accessibility for all users
and positive civic contribution. Once again, the judging process
has been rigorous and all the finalists thoroughly deserve their
success.”
A spokesperson for Cockermouth Town Council
confirmed that they hoped to build on the success of the shopfront
scheme: “The level of take-up for the scheme has exceeded
expectations and is a clear indication of the local desire to
preserve and enhance the town’s built heritage. The Town Council is
hoping to build on this excellent work by introducing a
Neighbourhood Development Order, under the provisions of the
Localism Act, which will seek to encourage and facilitate the
installation of traditional shop fronts within the town.”
The award shortlisting follows a joint entry
from Allerdale Borough Council, Cockermouth Town Council and
Cockermouth and District Civic Trust. All shortlisted projects
receive a commendation with winners being announced at a ceremony
to be held in Edinburgh on 2 March 2012.