Best Partnership with Designer

Avebury International, a nationwide housing development consultancy, created the first ever partnering arrangement with a British council. This has facilitated more than £100m a year of construction work from London to Liverpool. As well as working together to comply with regulations, Milton Keynes building control has constantly come up with imaginative ideas for tackling technical difficulties, and has created a system that is will be used to deliver more than 500 new homes over the next 18 months.

The finalists

Brettell Jackson & Associates and Birmingham council

This relationship was forged at a House of Fraser store in the Croydon Centrale development. Despite complex designs such as the fire strategy and the cutting out of a concrete slab, the £28m store was completed in just 38 weeks.

Capita Percy Thomas and Cardiff council

The Wales Millennium Centre presents an ideal example of how building control can contribute to the success of a project. Discussions over the design began seven years ago, and resulted in a fast-track programme for a highly complex building

Cassidy and Ashton and Blackpool council

The Palatine is the first large library to be built in Blackpool for 90 years, and as well as showcasing the latest in IT services and outstanding design, it developed the relationship between Cassidy and Ashton and Blackpool council that came up with “creative solutions to save time and money”.

Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole and Poole council

The RNLI’s combined high-tech aqua-gym and learning centre presented unusual challenges, all of which were solved with aplomb, or rather a mix of prefabrication and good interdisciplinary communication.

BBA Architects and Bath & North East Somerset council BBA Architects has had a long and cordial relationship with its local authority, and over the past five years alone, they have worked together on more than £45m worth of schemes.