Freemen's Meadow - Bede Island South

In the UK Landscape Awards 2010, Leicester City Council was commended in the East Midlands region for its entry for Freemen's Meadow - Bede Island South. The UK Landscape Award is in recognition of the good practice used by the council to ensure the development was designed and created to the highest possible standard.

The council used planning guidance to help Barratt Homes improve its original proposals for the site, and agree the designs which have now been built. As a result, Freemen's Meadow is now a landmark housing development featuring a series of modern apartments, open spaces and a public square, on the banks of the River Soar near the Walkers Stadium.

The completed development complements earlier work by the City Council’s Planning Service at the neighbouring Bede Island North development, which was finished in 1997. Bede Island North is now featured on the website of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) which advises on well-designed buildings.

Leicester City Council's Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Abdul Osman, said: "It is great to see that the council's planning and urban design teams have played such a role in ensuring that this development was above and beyond the ordinary. The result is a fantastic new housing development, and it is good to see the efforts of the council in achieving this have been recognised in this commendation."

Leicester City Council's Director of Planning and Economic Development, Andrew Smith, added: "This is an excellent example of planners and developers working together to deliver high quality new environments for people to live in and represents a model approach to designing new housing developments".

The theme of the competition was to look for innovative practice from local authorities, charities and non-governmental organisations in creating quality places. Leicester City Council's submission was based on the input by the Urban Design Team to lift a standard scheme into something exceptional.

Jo Watkins, President of the Landscape Institute which organised the Awards says: "We are delighted to announce the results of the first heat of these unique awards. They highlight the tremendous contribution that great urban and rural landscapes make to the creation of strong communities. This Award is important as it is recognises that looking after our landscape for future generations is a responsibility shared by all of us."

• Details of all the schemes including pictures and map locations are available on the UK Landscape Awards website.

• Click on the link below to view the Submission Document to the Landscape Awards 2010.