The Urban Task Force report and the government's Urban White Paper highlighted the role of local authorities in creating sustainable, safe and attractive urban areas. The beacon theme of Quality of the Built Environment recognises councils improving the places where people live and work. There were three winners in this category

Cambridge City Council

The council is guardian to one of the most historic cities in Europe so maintaining and enhancing the quality of Cambridge's built environment is a high priority. The council uses a range of strategies to do this: leading the debate about the growth of Cambridge; strategic partnerships; active community consultation; and investment in the skills of the design team.

Urban design open day Delivering quality in the built environment, 17 September 2003 at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

This event promotes Cambridge as a case study for community participation in the built environment, showcasing its new buildings in sensitive locations and its progressive transport strategy

Housing design open day
February/March 2004
Housing delivery from strategic level through to site specific, from brownfield regeneration to high-density housing design

'Placemaking' day
SHAPE Cambridge will be involved in organising a 'placemaking' event based around the involvement of young people with urban expansion

Traditional skills day
Demonstrating the practical skills required to create and maintain a high-quality built environment

Mentoring
Cambridge CC will offer mentoring opportunities to other authorities on issues surrounding design in the built environment

Contact
tel 01223 457364 beacon@cambridge.gov.uk

Chelmsford Borough Council

Chelmsford works in partnership with private and public sector organisations, including Marconi and Anglia Polytechnic University. It involves local communities, the health trust, the football club and Essex County Cricket Club in its decision-making.

Urban space tours
15 to 21 September 2003
A series of tours examining high quality housing layout, high density, public realm in new schemes, and waterside places

Making better places in practice 1
21 October 2003. This event focuses on promoting high quality housing through policy briefing and control

Making better places in practice 2
24 February 2004, Anglia Polytechnic University (APU)

Focus on regenerating Chelmsford's West End and waterside, improving public realm quality, and commissioning public art. Input from community representatives, designers and artists

The architect's view
March 2004, round table Under the auspices of the RIBA Essex

The developer's view
April 2004. Under the auspices of the Chelmsford Development Control Forum

Study event
Date to be confirmed, at APU
Raise urban design skills for planners and members. Contributes to Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Mentoring
Available later in the year

Contact details
tel 01245 606266 beacon@chelmsfordbc.gov.uk

West Dorset District Council

Spanning over 400 square miles, West Dorset District Council is geographically one of the largest local authorities in the country. It boasts over 6,000 listed buildings and a World Heritage Site coastline.

Successes include the Poundbury Estate, coastal engineering, community consultation in regeneration work and commitment to partnerships.

Coastal engineering
12 September 2003
Discover how the council is working with local people to build multi-million pound coastal engineering projects

The Poundbury story
16 October 2003
Principles to guide future development

Everyone's a design champion
14 November 2003 at Oxford Brookes University. West Dorset's partnership with the Joint Centre for Urban Design at Oxford Brookes has led to officers studying for qualifications while working to benefit real projects in the area. See the advantages that this approach can bring to the council and local community

Looking after local distinctiveness: West Dorset villages
March 2004
How the council's long-term approach to preserving and enhancing the local distinctiveness of West Dorset villages can be successfully applied elsewhere. Includes visits to examine examples of developments

Contact
tel 01305 252228 beacon@westdorset-dc.gov.uk