Winner - The Barnum - Marrons

Excellence in Planning for Communities (large schemes of 50 homes or more) - East Midlands

The Barnum has transformed a derelict site into a vibrant community, enhancing Nottingham’s Southside and setting new standards in urban regeneration and energy-efficient living.

The Barnum is a landmark development that has revitalised Nottingham’s Southside, transforming a derelict site into a thriving, sustainable community. Delivering 348 high-quality build-to-rent homes with exceptional amenities, it nurtures social connection and wellbeing. Designed with sustainability at its core, it incorporates solar panels, air source heat pumps and cycle-friendly infrastructure. The development enhances the urban landscape, encouraging further regeneration and economic growth. Blending modern design with heritage influences, The Barnum sets a new benchmark for sustainable, high-quality city living while supporting Nottingham’s long-term vision for a vibrant and connected community.

"The judging panel felt the development represented an imaginative and muscular use of this challenging site in the city centre and were particularly impressed with how the developer, architect and urban designers had been able to ensure that the maximum amount of natural light was able to enter the building from the big picture principal windows along the south facing aspect of the building."

Commended - Crown Place (former Gala Bingo) - Pearce Planning Ltd

Excellence in Planning for Communities (large schemes of 50 homes or more) - East Midlands

Pearce Planning Ltd - Crown Place, St Anns Wells Road, Nottingham - 426 bed PBSA development on the former Gala Bingo site. Innovative Planning Journey.

The Planning process included original consent, implementation whilst running a MMA application to increase the bed spaces by 20% from 356 to 426 beds broadly in the same massing. Scheme focused on delivering much needed bedspaces, increasing density, improving scheme design and attractiveness in street scene, careful consideration of adjacent Mosque and climbing centre and their continuing use, betterment for energy, biodiversity (green roofs/planting/ecology habitat), intricate brickwork to add interest, mass broken up through banding, directional windows and materials.

"This is a high quality development of purpose-built student accommodation and provides a mid-scale block of apartments which rise to the rear.  The development fronts St Anns Wells Road with a combination of existing street trees and new planting helping to screen and fit well into the urban street scene. The development provides outdoor courtyard spaces for socialising and recreation.

"The judging panel noticed how well the relationship with adjoining Mosque had been managed with a harmonious relationship between the two uses".