The Dorking Society has re-introduced its ‘Best Development’ Competition, which aims to recognise and promote good building design in Dorking and its surrounding villages.
The competition was originally established in 1990 by the then Dorking & District Preservation Society. It is now just over a decade since the last regular competition and the winner then – Cleveland Court in Westhumble Street – still looks as innovative, attractive, and well-engineered as it was in 2011. In a one-off competition in 2016, winners were Chorus Gardens in Beare Green and Mullins Court in Dorking.
As Dorking and its local villages have enjoyed a wide variety of renovations and new builds since then, the Society considered this the right moment to re-introduce the Awards.
Nominations are invited from owners, tenants, developers or architects of a new build or re-development, or from local residents who feel that a development is ‘special’. Projects nominated could be either a ‘Domestic residence’ or a ‘Commercial unit’, with special regard for any that are in the Dorking Conservation Area or which involve Listed properties.
The judges will be particularly looking for evidence of the ‘social benefit’ that the project provides to and within the community. Other key considerations will be sensitivity of design, relevance to surroundings, energy efficiency and, in the case of a re-development, positivity of re-use as a value to and in the community. In all cases, of course, they will be considering whether the architecture is good.
Nominations are now open until the closing date of 31st August 2024. Details and a nomination form will appear on this website soon. After nominations close, the Society will examine the photos submitted, view the development and create a short-list for the Judges Panel, which will comprise significant local professionals, the Chair of the Society and the Chair of the Society’s Community Team.
The Winner and Runners-up will be announced on 30th September 2024. The Overall Winner will be awarded a plaque, with Cups for runners-up in both categories.
The Dorking Society 