AN INITIATIVE is underway to champion quality design. The Kent Design Awards was officially launched last week at a seminar at County Hall in Maidstone.

The scheme is supported by Kent County Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects South East Region, the Kent Design Initiative and the Kent Messenger Group.

Speakers at the seminar included Eric Kuhne, master planner of Bluewater and Eastern Quarry, and Professor Sir Colin Stansfield-Smith, who led a successful design programme for new schools and other public buildings as county architect in Hampshire.

The launch itself was conducted by KCC leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart and KM Group chief executive David Lewis. Top prize will be for the title of Kent Design Project of the Year. Other categories are for homes, commercial and industrial buildings, community and other public buildings, urban design and town centre renewal and community involvement in design.

There will also be an annual award for the local authority or other public sector agency that has done most to promote good design or sustainable development in the county.

Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, said: “Kent is under enormous pressure to take thousands of new homes and other developments, especially aimed at Ashford and in Kent Thameside. We are prepared for this, but we are determined to have the best quality design for the new homes in Kent.

ÒKent is a special county. By encouraging real quality and high standards of design, we aim to make it an even better place for people to live and work and a prime location for business.”

Nominations for the award may be made by anyone who feels a particular project is sufficiently distinctive to be worthy of special recognition. Projects must be within the Kent and Medway administrative areas to be eligible.

Entries must be submitted by the building owner or a member of the construction team, using the Kent Design Awards entry form. Written consent of the building owner must be obtained prior to entry. The closing date for entries is May 30, 2003.

All nominations and entries must be submitted to the following address: Kent Design Team, c/o KCC Environmental Management, Invicta House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XX.

Forms and further details are available from the above address or by ringing 01622 221524. Or, by filling in the form printed here and returning the Kent Design Team address.