Rural round of the 2007 Civic Trust awards launched

Entry forms are now available in a unique scheme which intends to reward new buildings, restorations, public art or landscape schemes. For the first time, entry forms will be available online at www.civictrust.org.uk and the closing date will be 13 September 2006.

The Civic Trust Awards operate on a two year rota – last years' round was for urban areas with major metropolitan councils & cities - and this year, for county towns and shires.

Award winners will have to demonstrate outstanding examples of architecture and environmental design. Consideration is also given to the benefit each project brings to its local area and community. To be eligible, projects have to have been completed between 1 January 2004 and 30 September 2006.

In the last rural round of awards, the winners included:

· Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight (www.civictrust.org.uk/ctawards/special_brading.shtml)

· The Oakwood Centre, Berkshire

· Falstone Tea Rooms, Northumberland

· Compton Verney Mansion House & Art Gallery, Warwickshire

· Ballingdon Bridge, Suffolk

· Revitalisation of the Central Promenade, Hornsea, Yorkshire

· The Kindersley Centre, Sheepdrove Organic Farm, Berkshire (www.civictrust.org.uk/ctawards/special_kindersley.shtml)

As well as Awards, Commendations are given to projects that make a valuable contribution to the quality and appearance of the environment; Mentions are given to projects of cultural, social or economic benefit to the local community and there are a number of Sponsored Awards.

Entries are assessed by a leading architect, a local authority planning expert, an access advisor and a local person (who expresses the views of the community). This team submits its suggestions to the National Panel, a small group of experts, which makes the final decisions.

Nisha Kaduskar, Awards Manager for The Civic Trust said: "Entries can be anything and come from anywhere from the Shetlands to the Channel Islands, from Norwich to Ballymena. We are looking forward to an exciting year with another bumper crop of rural entries."