A major 350-home urban residential development is one of just four projects to have received a Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Gloucestershire Award in 2013, an unusual recipient for an award which until now has largely gone to much smaller, more rural projects.

The annual CPRE Awards celebrate outstanding projects benefiting people and the environment. Awards are made to recognise projects that are exemplary in their contribution to communities, for the way they contribute to a quality environment and for enhancing the social life of the countryside.

Along with the 350-home development, a smaller housing project, a village hall and a wildlife project received awards.

The four projects are:

Kingshill Meadow housing scheme, Cirencester

The award was made for the planning, design and development of a major residential development that demonstrates the importance of creating visual quality that reflects the variety of resident’s needs, and that has been successfully integrated with the urban fabric of Cirencester.

Kingshill Meadow is a significant urban extension to Cirencester, the first sizable residential development to be considered for a Gloucestershire CPRE Award.

Over 350 dwellings have been provided, both market and affordable, including 60 Extra Care units with communal facilities. Great care has been taken over design. Using materials appropriate in a Cotswolds town, a restricted palate of building styles was adopted, and particular attention given to walls, fences, ground detailing and landscaping that helps create visual interest and a sense of a quality development.

Meysey Hampton Memorial Hall

The Award was made for the replacement of a much needed community building with one that is both efficient and which significantly enhances the visual character of the village: an exemplar of improvement in every sense.

After the First World War a small plot of land by the school was given to the village and in 1920 a wooden hut from the army base at Chisledon was erected on the site to create Meysey Hampton Memorial Hall in memory of those who had died in the Great War. The building served the community well but 80 years on it was much patched and much altered and no longer served its purpose.

The community did a fantastic job in local fund raising, raising £60,000 for the project. They were then able to access funding from the Rural Development Programme for England. The outcome is a splendid new Memorial Hall.

Stonesfield Close, Southrop

The Award was made for the planning, design and integration of a small residential development into an attractive Cotswold village.

The village of Southrop featured in the very first set of Awards in 2008 where an Award was made for the meticulous restoration of Southrop Manor Barns.

This second Award in Southrop is for a small development of eight new houses in Southrop Close on what was a former haulage yard.

Five 4/5 bedroom detached houses have been built, but also a terrace of three affordable 3 bedroom homes for local families provided through the Cirencester Housing Society for rent.

Overall this is a very pleasing and attractive small scale development whose design has created an interesting addition to the village scene. Churchdown Park Ponds

The Award was made for creating and managing a new landscape feature of wildlife ponds and reed beds completing an outstanding example of a comprehensive range of outdoor amenities for local people in Churchdown.

Over a period of over 25 years, Churchdown Parish Council has been incrementally developing land adjoining their offices into an attractive local park. The park now includes a children’s play area, BMX track, skateboard park, playing field for football, pocket park, nature reserve, community orchard and allotments.

The most recent addition is a landscaped area of reed beds and wildlife ponds. This project, supported with grant from the Market Towns Forum, completes the programme of site development. It neatly bridges the more intensive recreational uses with the adjoining farmed countryside of the Green Belt creating its own landscape interest.

Churchdown Ponds provide an outstanding locally provided environment - good for people, wildlife and water management.

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The 2013 CPRE Gloucestershire Awards were presented to their recipients by CPRE Gloucestershire Vice President, Lord Rupert Bledisloe on Wednesday October 9, 1pm at a special reception at Highnam Gambier Parry Hall, Newent Road, Gloucester GL2 8DG

Click on the gallery above to view images of the award winning projects.