NOW in its third year the Fenland District Council, Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard Building Design Awards look set to be even more impressive than before. And to launch the prestigious awards, architects, representatives from Fenland District Council a

NOW in its third year the Fenland District Council, Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard Building Design Awards look set to be even more impressive than before.

And to launch the prestigious awards, architects, representatives from Fenland District Council and the leader of the council Geoff Harper and planning committee chairman Martin Curtis, gathered at the premises of the last year's overall award winner, at Colony Lakes near Manea.

The staggering building project by Peter Crout and his wife Abigail is the culmination of years of hard work.

The couple transformed their home with an extraordinary extension, which doubled the size of the original property, and it now includes a fantastic observatory tower and balcony on a fourth floor.

And it is this kind of imaginative design and expert building work which judges in this year's design awards will be looking for in the nominations.

This year there will be 14 award categories including a new one, the Quality Construction Award- which will reward projects which have achieved an outstanding standard of workmanship.

Other categories include the Heritage Award, either new build, conservation or renovation, Home Awards for various development sizes, a Sustainability Award, a Commercial Award, a Street Scene Award, a Planning Award, a Conservation Award, a Community Award and the Overall Winner Award which is judged by the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard.

However Nick Seaton, building control and planning compliance manager at the council, wants entries from across the board for this year's awards.

He said that although architects were great at sending in nominations, he wants entries to also come from builders and members of the public.

He said: "There are some fantastic building projects in Fenland, so if a builder has been working on a home and thinks - yes this is a brilliant piece of work - then we want them to get in touch and fill in a nomination form."

Editor John Elworthy, who launched the opening of the awards, said: "We were exceptionally impressed by the standard of entries last year, and we hope to improve on this.

"We are certainly looking forward to seeing the excellent and remarkable entries as they pile in again this year."

Mr Crout said that winning last year's overall award had been very pleasing and he said that he was "very proud".

He said he would certainly encourage others to enter as it not only recognises the achievements of those involved, but it is also a source of fantastic publicity.

There are 14 categories this year and all the information can be found on the Fenland District Council website at fenland.gov.uk

Further details of the categories will be featured in the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard and we will also feature on the nominations as they begin to pour in.

So don't delay start entering now.

The closing date will be January 15, and a prestigious awards ceremony will follow next March at the Boathouse in Wisbech.

Full details of how to nominate and the rules can be found on the Fenland District Council website or you can email buildingdesignawards@fenland.gov.uk

Nominations can also be sent via the Fenland@yourservice shops, or by calling 01354 654321