Hunt on for best new Borders building

13 Mar 2018

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(from left) Councillor Tom Miers, Hugo Burge and Ian Aikman, Scottish Borders Council’s chief planning officer, at Marchmont House to launch the Borders Building Design Awards 2018

The search is on again for the best designed new buildings in the Borders, with the launch of the Borders Building Design Awards 2018.

The awards intend to promote good building design in the Borders and to strengthen links between builders, architects, Scottish Borders Council planners and other professionals in the industry.

Councillor Tom Miers, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for planning and environment, launched the 2018 awards at Marchmont House in Berwickshire, which scooped an award in 2016 and is hosting this year’s event.

Councillor Miers said: “The Borders Building Design Awards aim to encourage the highest quality building design across the Borders whether it is modern, innovative or traditional.

“Good building design is a priority for this Council. It enhances our surroundings and quality of life, and is essential if we want to attract new jobs and investment to the Borders.

“Our sponsors are a huge part of these awards because creating a legacy of great building design in the Borders is down to the industry itself and these companies are putting their money where their mouth is in this belief.”

Hugo Burge of Marchmont House added: “We are delighted to host these awards, celebrating excellence in creativity in the built environment, which is very much a fit for our aspirations.”

Alongside Marchmont House, property consultants Knight Frank, independent builders’ merchant MKM Building Supplies and window, door and offsite building suppliers Sidey Solutions are sponsoring the 2018 awards.

James Denne from Knight Frank’s Borders office, said: “These awards help to underline how important the quality and design of the buildings we all live and work in are to the Scottish Borders.

“Period houses and buildings, conversions and new build projects all have a part to play in developing our quality of life in this beautiful part of the country.”

The competition was last held in 2016 as part of a range of activities to celebrate the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and the Festival of Architecture.