CIVIC ACTION AWARDS
Three awards were presented this year:
Award for Contribution to the NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – made to Stop Portland Waste Incinerator for their work in protecting the coast and sites of special scientific interest on and around Portland.
Award for Contribution to HERITAGE – made to Portland Museum for their bold and imaginative project to document the wreck of the Abergavenny, its crew and artifacts.
Award for IMPROVING LIFESTYLE – made to of The Dry Dock team in St Thomas Street Weymouth for providing a space for friends and community groups to meet and work in a convivial, but alcohol-free space.
THE TRADITIONAL AWARDS
Six projects were awarded under the Society’s traditional awards scheme for the best contributions to the built environment. These were as follows:
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
NEW APARTMENTS – ROMAN ROAD, WEYMOUTH
This Certificate of Merit is awarded for the newly built block of six affordable one-and two-bedroom apartments within the new housing development. We commend the attractive and unusual design, in brick with tile hanging, reminiscent of large residences of the early 20th century, and designed to be in keeping with older houses in the neighbourhood. All the properties have bird nesting bricks, bee bricks and accommodation for bats built into the walls, as environmental mitigation measures
COMMENDATIONS
MASSANDRA COURT, 9 GREENHILL – CONVERSION TO APARTMENTS
This fine late-Victorian house has been converted from its previous use as the Trimar Hospice, to provide nine apartments and a Coach House. Original features have been restored, modern additions removed, and unsuitable windows replaced. With the spacious layout of the original villa’s principal rooms reinstated, the project has helped to ensure the continuation of this important building in the Conservation Area in good condition into the future.
6 HIGH STREET, FORTUNESWELL, PORTLAND – NEW HOUSE
A considerable improvement has been made by this new house in Fortuneswell. It replaces a former builder’s yard, filling an unattractive gap in the line of houses and enhancing the street view on this important route on Portland. The house fits unobtrusively into its setting, in scale with others, in a simple design using slate and a stone finish to the walls.
CHESIL REACH, CHICKERELL – NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
This Commendation is awarded in recognition of the thoughtful layout and variety of design and materials in evidence in the completed eastern part of this major housing site of 292 homes. Particularly attractive is a small Green with groups of houses ranged around it, where Courage Way meets Helyar Drive. The 35% affordable social homes, half of which are to be properties for rent, make welcome provision for those on lower incomes.
LETTERS OF APPRECIATION
MARINA VIEW, WESTWEY ROAD – NEW APARTMENTS
This new apartment block has made a noticeable improvement to the long vacant site of the former motor-cycle showroom. It makes good use of a very confined space, accommodating six apartments over three floors, with residents’ parking and bicycle storage at ground level. In particular, this new building enhances the vista of the Marina when viewed across the Inner Harbour from the town centre.
PILGRIM HOUSE, 1 HOPE STREET – RESTORATION
A programme of improvements has been carried out to this important historic building. The stonework of the front elevation has been restored, with care taken in replacing old cement rendering with new ashlar stone, and repointing with lime mortar. The sash windows have been repaired and repainted, and old wiring removed. The whole project has enhanced this part of Hope Square.
