Projects up for top design award

People can walk through the forest on the Tree Top Way

Four projects in the eastern region have been shortlisted for a prestigious design award.

A treetop walkway through a Northants forest, is one of 14 projects nominated for the 2006 Prime Minister's Better Public Building award.

A water activities centre resembling a resting bird with outstretched wings and a flood alleviation project, both in Norfolk, are also nominated.

A children's centre in Essex also made the shortlist from 137 entries.

Now in its sixth year, the annual award, sponsored by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), recognises excellence in the design, quality and procurement of publicly funded building schemes.

Valuable habitat

The 15m-high Salcey Treetop Walk allows people to walk at treetop level through Salcey Forest.

Kevin Stannard, of the Forestry Commission, said: "The Tree Top Way was imagined as an exciting means to encourage visitors to experience the ancient forest from a new perspective."

The Water Activities Centre in Whitlingham Country Park was selected for its creativity, innovation and sustainable construction.

The activities centre was built using traditional methods

Inspired by traditional Norfolk seaside chalets, the centre is used for teaching and social events.

It was built using traditional boat building craft methods and is covered by a 36m Teflon span roof resembling a resting bird with outstretched wings.

The Broadland Flood Alleviation Project aims to protect 30,000 hectares of valuable habitat and grazing marsh on the Norfolk Broads.

Also nominated is the John Perry Children's Centre in Dagenham, which caters for children's care and learning, but also offers spaces for public meetings.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October 2006.