Awards for ‘tender loving care’

Properties lovingly restored or extended in the world's first Garden City could win a special Heritage Award.

The Heritage Foundation's Garden City Heritage Awards 2007 will celebrate best practice in improving properties in Letchworth Garden City – from private residences to public and company buildings. If you own, or know of a property in the Garden City, which you consider has been tastefully and lovingly restored you are invited to enter the awards. The size and scale of the works may be large or small, but must have improved the property’s external physical appearance.

Entry is free. The property must be located within Letchworth Garden City and you can submit more than one entry. The qualifying period for entries is from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007. The improvement works must have been completed during this period. The closing date for entries is June 30, 2007.

Works can be nominated for one of the following categories:

• Extensions whether front, side or rear, or even a combination of the three.
• New and altered hard standings in front gardens. To include planting schemes and paving
• Other alterations including, but not restricted to, garages, replacement windows, chimneys, porches and roofs. Internal works are not eligible for entry
• Non-residential buildings. In addition to the many private dwellings that have been lovingly restored, there are many civic, public, commercial and community buildings which have been restored
• Best new or refurbished shopfront

The overall winner will be selected from the category winners.

Each of the five category winners will receive a cash prize of £2,000, with the overall winner scooping an additional £3,000. Cash prizes will be payable to the owners. In addition, the winners of each category will be presented with a certificate and a plaque for permanent display at the award-winning site. Certificates will also be awarded to the builders or architects who worked on the winning schemes and also to the runners-up in each category.

The initial selection process will take place during the summer. The judging panel will consist of volunteers, including building professionals and local residents. All entrants and their supporters will be invited to a special awards ceremony in September 2007.