News

Winners announced for 2010 Waterways Renaissance Awards

18th Mar 2010

Canal and river projects from across the UK are celebrating after scooping top honours at this year’s Waterways Renaissance Awards, run by The Waterways Trust and BURA (British Urban Regeneration Association).

The eleven categories of entry saw a diverse range of projects, from community festivals to new activity centres, from across all four countries of the UK recognised for their achievements in revitalising our canals and rivers.

British Waterways was delighted to be named the winner of six categories, and to be commended or 'runner up' on a further six occasions.

A £15 million flood alleviation scheme along 1.7km of the River Don corridor between Templeborough and Rotherham town centre won the inaugural Flood Risk Management Award. This project has provided 1 in 100 year flood protection in a major gateway into Rotherham.

Best practice in sustainable waterway regeneration

Now in their eighth year, the Waterways Renaissance Awards aim to recognise best practice in sustainable waterway regeneration and development throughout the UK.

The awards ceremony took place at the Lowry in Manchester on 17th March 2010 where the winners of each category gained the recognition they deserved. The event was hosted by Jim Hancock, former BBC Political Editor North West and now Associate, Vision Creative & Communications Consultants.

The nominations were judged by an independent assessment panel, comprising waterway, conservation and regeneration experts and chaired by Sir Peter Soulsby MP.

The awards this year were sponsored by Defra, Halcrow, May Gurney and Morrison Construction Ltd. The media partner was Regeneration and Renewal Magazine.

The Results for the eleven categories in The Waterways Renaissance Awards 2010 are:

Area-based regeneration – sponsored by May Gurney
Winner: Lough Neagh Regeneration Programme, Northern Ireland
Runner up: Clarence Dock, Leeds

Community
Winner: Middlewich Vision, Cheshire
Classified as a ‘failing’ market town, the community of Middlewich came together in 2007 to bring about its regeneration. Nineteen partner organisations have worked together to develop a strategic vision which has transformed the town. The aim is to connect the canal to the town centre and reduce both the physical and visual barriers that were causing the lack of connectivity. The master plan includes complementary community projects that record the town's history orally through music, diverse cultures, festivals and historic archive preparation.

Runner up: Village at War, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire

Design & Construction
Winner: Liverpool Canal Link
For many years there has been no access from the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to the Pier Head in Liverpool. This new waterway extension running from the Eldonia flight of locks across Liverpool’s waterfront, to Canning Dock means that you can now cross England by waterway from the Humber to the Mersey. Taking eight years to complete, the project is now a key part of Liverpool’s waterfront regeneration strategy.

Runner up: Trent River Park Green Infrastructure
Commended: Restoration of Ynysbwllog Aqueduct, Neath

Education & Learning
Winner: Action Outdoors, Falkirk
An innovative Outdoor Learning centre that nestles on the bank of the Union Canal in Falkirk. Officially opened in April 2009 the centre offers people of all ages and abilities the opportunity of healthy waterside activities and a chance to try new experiences, meet new people, learn new skills, gain greater confidence, raised self-esteem and enable personal and social development.

Runner up: Ouseburn Explorer – Putting Children in Charge, Newcastle
Commended: The First of its Kind – Anderton Boat Lift
Commended: Brecon Gateway

Historic Environment
Winner: Railway on the Water – Relaunched! Yorkshire Waterways Museum
Commended: Allington Lock Site Enhancement, Kent

Flood Risk Management – sponsored by Halcrow
Winner: Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme Ph1 & Centenary Wetland Park

Innovation
Commended: Porters Lock Canoe Fishway, Kent
Commended: Kings Lock Visitors Centre & Lock Office Extension, Oxford

Natural Environment – sponsored by Defra
Winner: Trinity Broads Restoration, Norfolk
Commended: Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme Ph1 & Centenary Wetland Park
Commended: Torrs Weir Fish Pass & River Mersey Fish & Wildlife Refuge

Partnership
Winner: Pride in our Promenades, Merseyside
A strategic approach to enhancing public access to the Mersey Waterfront which has seen £8m invested over 4 years in improving more than 14km of waterside routes. The traditional promenades along the Mersey Estuary waterfront have been upgraded, now boasting new visitor attractions and enhanced public access ranging from a children’s playground, informal lock-side recreation to improved heritage interpretation.

Runner up: Bigman 1 & 2 Festivals, Glasgow
Commended: Village at War, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire
Commended: Oil Mills Bridge, Stroud
Commended: Lough Neagh Regeneration Programme, Northern Ireland

Recreation & Tourism
Winner: Great Glens Ways Initiative
A partnership interpretation project for the Great Glen and its three sustainable 'Ways' - the Caledonian Canal, the Great Glen Way Long Distance Route and the Great Glen Mountain Bike Trails. This joint working also brought the benefit of encouraging 'cross-over' between the users of the routes - people are exhorted to visit the Great Glen by Boot, Boat and Bike!

Runner up: Allington Lock Site Enhancement & Porters Lock Canoe Fishway, Kent
Commended: Viaduct Terrace, Knaresborough

Strategy & Masterplanning – sponsored by Morrison Construction
Winner: Erewash Canal Access Strategy, Nottingham
Built in the 18th Century as a main transport artery, the Erewash Canal connected now disused Cromford, Nottingham and Derby & Sandiacre Canals to the River Trent. A significant asset for the East Midlands, this access strategy has been developed by the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association to help realise its true potential as a leisure destination by increasing access and connectivity.

Runner up: Middlewich Vision, Cheshire

Outstanding Achievement Award
Winner: Lough Neagh Regeneration Programme, Northern Ireland