The winners of the first ever Sefton Design Awards have been revealed at a glittering black-tie ceremony which took place at The Grand in Southport.

Outstanding architecture

Created by Sefton Council, the Design Awards celebrate outstanding architecture, urban planning, and building projects across the Borough over the past 10 years. 

Categories ranged from larger projects such as Best Heritage Scheme, Best Commercial Scheme and Best Public Art or Public Realm Scheme to smaller ones such as Best Individual New House and Best Home Extension. 

Housing development in Sefton was recognised by the Best Small and Large Housing Scheme categories as well as an award for the Best Affordable Housing Scheme.

Exceptional contribution

Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control said: “Through these first ever Sefton Design Awards, we wanted to recognise the high quality of design practice in Sefton over the past 10 years and I want to congratulate all the winners for their exceptional contribution to Borough’s immensely varied built environment.

“The Awards have been an excellent opportunity for architects, designers, and builders to showcase their work and gain recognition for their achievements and I hope by highlighting them, inspire others to reach those same exceptional standards in future schemes.”

“This inaugural event will recognise the high standards of design in Sefton and inspire others to reach those same high standards.

Amazing night

Award winners DV8 Designs, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to Win 'Best Commercial Project' for Southport Market, thank you for an amazing night and recognition from Sefton Council.”

The Winners and runners up were: 

Best Heritage Scheme
WINNER: 509 - 515 Lord Street, Southport

Highly Commended:

• The Grand 180 Lord Street, Southport
• Cambridge Road Community Learning Hub, Crosby
• Former Church of St Mary the Virgin, Park Road, Waterloo

Best Small Housing Scheme
WINNER: Golf Road/ Victoria Road,  Formby

Best Individual New House
WINNER: Firwood Hall, 10 Alexandra Road, Formby

Best Large Housing Scheme
WINNER: Kew Housing Site, Southport

Highly Commended:

• Burbo Point, Blundellsands
  Bedford Road/ Queens Road, Bootle

Best Conversion Scheme
WINNER: St Winefride’s Campus, Hugh Baird College, Bootle

Highly Commended:

• The Arch Recording Studios and Workspace, Former Crossens Methodist Church, Rufford Road, Southport
• 55 West Street, Southport
• The Welsh Presbyterian Church, Waterloo
• The Grand 180 Lord Street , Southport

Best Commercial Scheme
WINNER: Southport Market King Street, Southport

Best Affordable Housing Scheme
WINNER: Land at Altway, junction with Lancing Drive, Aintree

Highly Commended:

• Sites off Buckley Hill Lane, Great Hey, Red Lomes and Little Barn Hey, Netherton

Best House Extension
WINNER: 10 Sherringham Road, Hillside

Best Public Building
WINNER: Hartley Hospital, Southport

Highly Commended:

• Aspen Wood, Maghull

Best Sustainable/Climate Resilient Scheme
WINNER: 55 West Street, Southport

Highly Commended:

• Retrofit Scheme, Oxford House, Bootle
• Green Homes Grant Properties within Sefton

Best Overall Scheme
WINNER: 509-515 Lord Street, Southport

The winner of ‘Best Overall Scheme’, included the reinstatement of the Grade II Listed 509—515 Lord Street which was previously on the Councils at Risk Register. 

The transformation of this building was enabled through the Southport Townscape Heritage project with a grant contribution by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

The high-quality design of the conversion and reinstatement of detailed traditional shopfronts provides a real landmark for both Lord Street and Bold street and demonstrates ways in which historic high streets can be reinvigorated by subtle interventions which have brought the building back into full use and provided a catalyst for the regeneration of Bold Street.