Following on from its success at the Local Government News (LGN) Street Design awards last month, and recognition at regional planning level last year for its regeneration excellence; Kettering Market Place has been shortlisted for a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Planning Award.
During their visit on the 12th July, the panel of judges will receive a presentation from the Council and Design Team on how the Market Place was regenerated, before being taken into the Market Place for a first-hand look. The judges will then meet community and funding partners at the George Hotel, itself benefitting from the improvements to the area.
The Market Place has been shortlisted in the Public Realm category of the awards. This category recognises all areas of townscape and landscape enhancement, and Kettering’s Market Place has been shortlisted alongside entries from the London Borough of Islington and Chard in South Somerset.
The Awards will be presented in February 2011.
Paul Thomas, The Project Manager for Kettering Borough Council said:
“To have received recognition at a Regional Planning level is great, to be shortlisted for a National Award really is superb. A lot of hard work went into the scheme from the Council, our partners, and also the community. Its great that we are all starting to reap the rewards of its success.”
The Market Place project has been paid for using external bid funding from Central Government and has been delivered in Partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, North Northants Development Company (NNDC) and Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL) who contributed to the redevelopment of the market place with an investment of just under £500,000 in 2008/09.
Simon Evans, Chief Executive of NNDC, said:
“It is great to see Kettering receive further national recognition for the exciting changes taking place in its town centre. Alongside Kettering Borough Council and other project partners, I look forward to meeting the judges and showing them the transformation that is underway in and around the historic Market Place.”
Paul Southworth, Chair of NEL said:
"The new Market Place is the first project in the larger scheme for the regeneration of Kettering town centre, acting as a catalyst for other projects. We are delighted that Kettering has been recognized at this level".