Middleton roundabout up for architecture award

A roundabout in Middleton is on the shortlist for a prestigious architecture award.

The Middleton Meadows scheme was a joint venture between Enterprise Rentacar, Green Estates and Leeds City Council on the Middleton Ring Road near the St George Centre and Asda. It saw the roundabout planted up with wild flowers, as well as bringing lots of colour and encouraging bio-diversity, the meadows require fewer mowings as so have lower maintenance costs.

Middleton Meadows roundabout in full bloom

The other project on the shortlist from South Leeds is the Leeds City College development at their Printworks campus. The college took over the Alf Cooke Printworks on Hunslet Road adding new buildings as well as renovating the listed building.

Both projects have been nominated for the 2016 Leeds Architecture Awards, which look set to be the biggest and best yet; with nearly 80 nominations over seven categories the awards are back for their first ceremony since 2013.

The winners will be announced in March 2017 at a glittering ceremony in Leeds Town Hall. Categories include best new building, best conserved building and best temporary works as well as a people’s choice award. Also this year sees a special young people’s award, selected by a panel of young people who will choose their favourite building from this year’s award winners.

The judging panel includes representatives from the Leeds Society of Architects, Leeds Civic Trust, Institute of Historic Buildings Restoration, the Landscape Institute and Leeds Beckett University. A range of criteria will be used to assess each of the shortlisted schemes, including appearance, sustainability, fitness for purpose, relation to setting, appropriate use of materials, consistency of design, enhancement of the area and lasting qualities.

Paul Ellison, managing Director of Yorkshire Design Group, representing Leeds Chamber Property Forum, said:

“Leeds continues to grow in stature and further develop its profile as an enviable city in which to live, work and spend leisure time, and these awards celebrate the quality and ingenuity of diverse schemes and projects which all contribute to an improved experience of our urban fabric.

“The 2016 shortlist presents the opportunity not only to acknowledge excellence in major, headline-grabbing developments, but also to shine the light on the more modest, quirky yet equally valuable contributions to the character of our city”

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council and ward member for Middleton said:

“Looking back at the landscape from 1987 when the awards first took place it’s difficult to believe we’re in the same city such is the transformation that has taken place through the building and development schemes since then.

“It’s great to see that we have restoration projects of historical buildings alongside new builds in the award nominations. I think this really reflects the character of Leeds and the way the city recognises its past while embracing the future.”

These awards are a great opportunity to highlight the good work going which is shaping our city and to show the world what Leeds has to offer”

 

One Reply to “Middleton roundabout up for architecture award”

  1. Fantastic !!!
    All of our roundabouts and common land should follow suit.
    I am certain there would be enough enthusiastic community members to make this happen in practice.

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