Rules of Entry

Who and What Can Enter?

Projects can be entered into the following categories:

• Civic Trust Awards "Standard" (one individual building, structure or space) eg a library, office, restaurant, community centre.
• Civic Trust Awards "Large/Multi-Use Projects" (multiple buildings, use classes, structures or spaces on one site by the same architecture practice) A development that contains two or more main buildings on one site and developed as a single entity, eg housing development, university campus, infrastructure projects. Applicants must state the number of buildings, structures or spaces within the entry to be judged.
• Pro-Tem Awards (for temporary projects or installations)
• AABC Conservation Awards

Please ensure that you enter your project into the correct category. Should your project be entered into the incorrect category, then unfortunately it will be deemed unsuccessful at the first stage assessment.
Please see below for more information.

Completion Date

For 2025 entries, schemes must be completed between 1st September 2020 and 1st September 2024 - this includes any surrounding areas, landscaping and car parking which form part of the design. The completion window is indicative, if your scheme falls outside this window, please email us to enquire whether it can be entered info@civictrustawards.org.uk

Opening/Closing Date

The 2025 application round will open on Monday 10th June and close on Friday 26th July 2024. 

Joint Applications

If you wish to submit an application jointly with another practice(s) or organisation(s) this is acceptable. Please ensure that the practice names are included within the application credits section under the tab “Applicant”.

Visibility

Schemes must be visible to the public - it must be possible to see externally most of it, all year round, from a road, footpath or other public thoroughfare. Private buildings that are regularly used by large numbers of people, for instance schools or commercial buildings, are considered visible.

Internal Schemes

Wholly internal projects are eligible to enter, but the internal elements must be accessible to the public and the building visible from a road, footpath or other public thoroughfare e.g. internal restoration of a historic building or museum etc.

Large/Multi-Use Application (multiple buildings, use classes, structures or spaces on one site by the same practice, under one application)

Large/Muti-use projects have become increasingly popular and we felt it was appropriate in 2022 to allow these schemes to be considered under one entry should the practice responsible wish to submit. 

These can be large scale developments that contain two or more main buildings on one site and developed as a single entity, eg housing developments, university campus, mixed-use public realm and infrastructure projects.

Projects must be fully completed, including any landscaping or ancillary works and be designed by the same architecture practice or design team.

There is no limit on the number of buildings, structures or spaces that can be included within this application. The applicant must state the number of buildings, structures or spaces that are to be judged on the application system and provide clear information and supporting documents and photographs.

The applicant should be confident when submitting multiple buildings, structures and spaces under one Large/Multi-Use Application that all elements are of the same standard. Assessors and National Judging Panel members will expect all buildings, structures, spaces contained within the entry to be architecturally excellent, sustainable, accessible and have made a positive impact on the community they serve. If any of the elements are considered not of the same standard this is likely to affect the overall result.

If various architects have worked on a project, then they are responsible for entering the parts of the project that they are responsible for and cannot submit under one Large/Multi-Use Application. This is to avoid elements of the scheme being of differing standard by different architects/design teams affecting the overall result.

The buildings/spaces must all be on one site and not in multiple locations around a town/city.

Assessment Teams visiting the scheme must be able to fully assess all completed elements of the project included within the application.

If Assessors decide that the scheme cannot be fully assessed due to the incomplete nature of the scheme or any adjacent works, then the application would be considered unsuccessful. In such instances, resubmission will be permitted the following year (additional application fee payable).

The application fee for a multi-use application is £650 +VAT per entry. Should you prefer to submit individual elements of the multi-use scheme under separate entries, the standard application fee of £250 +VAT per entry will apply. 

N.B. We do not accept masterplans, but these can be credited within an entry.

Private Houses & Housing Schemes

Private Houses and Housing Schemes are eligible to enter, but should demonstrate how their project contributes to the debate on topics such as density, sustainability and social mix (e.g. affordable homes). In terms of the “community impact” criteria, this can be achieved through the demonstration of the building’s positive contribution to the streetscape, e.g. shared spaces, landscaping and play areas. 

Housing Schemes of differing housing types/styles of two or more buildings on one site by one architecture practice/design team and developed as a single entity should be entered as a Large/Multi-Use Application. We do expect housing developments to have lift access provision to ensure accessibility for all.

Temporary Projects or Installations

We encourage applications from temporary projects or installations. Schemes that have a design life of less than 5 years are considered to be a transient building/structure (such as a touring art installation) 
These can be submitted for a Pro-Tem Awards via the relevant online application form. 

Conservation Projects

For projects that involve the repair, remediation and where appropriate, adaptation of a historic building, these should be submitted for consideration via the Civic Trust Awards AABC Conservation Award online application system.

Projects that are of a conservation nature but still meet the requirements of the Civic Trust Awards can be entered into both schemes. The project will then be eligible to be awarded in either (or both) awards schemes. Recent projects being recognised by both the Civic Trust Awards and AABC Awards include “The Painted Hall” by Hugh Broughton Architects & Martin Ashley Architects; “Westminster Abbey Triforium” by Ptolemy Dean Architects & MUMA. Both projects were also recognised by the Selwyn Goldsmith Awards, making them triple winners. Separate entries need to be completed and two application fees applied.

Reuse & Adaptation

We encourage applications from projects that would otherwise have been left to decay or be demolished.  The Civic Trust Awards looks to recognise schemes that have benefitted the community and its users, by maintaining its cultural heritage or restoring a culturally significant site, ensuring its viability for new uses and modern functions other than those originally intended. The application should clearly show what has gone/been added on plans - with “As-Was” and “As-Built” plans uploaded. State clearly what has been done and submit before and after images.

Re-submission

Projects entered in previous years cannot be resubmitted unless the judges decided the entry was premature/incomplete. Please contact us if you think you may have a scheme that should be reconsidered.

Disclosure

Should relevant circumstances come to light that had not been known at the time of judging an award may be withheld.

Final Decision

The decision of the National Judging Panel is final. The Panel do not enter into any correspondence regarding the decision. 

Winning Projects – Plaques for Display

All winning projects will be presented with a plaque for permanent display at the successful scheme. Applicants agree to install the plaque within 3 months of the winner’s announcement at the Awards Ceremony.

First Stage Assessment Process

Wherever possible, all projects entered into the Civic Trust Awards will be visited by at least one Civic Trust Awards Assessor. AABC projects are judged by the AABC Conservation Awards Panel via a desk assessment.

PLEASE NOTE:

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that you have entered your project into the correct category.

Should your project be entered into the incorrect category, then unfortunately it will be deemed unsuccessful at the first stage assessment. 

Where scheme visits are to take place, our assessor teams should not be accompanied by the applicant during their visit. 
The scheme should be available to be visited by our assessment team at any time during September and October and applicants must ensure that schemes are notified prior to entry.

If the scheme isn’t accessible on the date/time provided by the Awards Assessment team, the visit may be deferred to the following year or the project desk assessed (for CTA and Pro-Tem applications).