Whitehill & Bordon’s Green Loop scooped the top spot at the prestigious Planning Awards, in the best use of arts, culture or sports category.
Partly funded by Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (EM3), along with developers’ contributions, the Green Loop is a 7km network of walking and cycling paths that encircle and crisscross the town and is often used by walkers, runners and cyclists.
Held in London, the awards recognise outstanding work by councils, consultants, developers, voluntary groups and other important players in the UK planning system.
The accolade acknowledges the inspirational design of the waymarkers installed alongside the path, including totems, benches and blocks, which provide information about local facilities and how long it will take to reach them.
Made from concrete and timber, the waymarkers are designed to be in keeping with the surrounding heathland, while directions are indicated by chevron-shaped arrows, often used by the military, as a nod towards the town’s army garrison past.
The judges admired the “holistic approach to creating functional green infrastructure which factors in health, history and the environment.”
The Green Loop project was managed in partnership by East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council, Whitehill Town Council, Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company and used local company Urban Place Lab.
EM3’s Head of Infrastructure, Transport and Place, Kevin Travers, said: “Very many congratulations to everyone who worked on the Green Loop project – this is fantastic news.”
“We are especially pleased as EM3’s involvement with the project was part a much wider Sustainable Transport Package for Whitehill & Bordon, to which the LEP contributed more than £3 million.”
“To see the Whitehill & Bordon Green Loop win such a prestigious award is a testament to a lot of hard work and careful planning in a project that aims to help reduce car journeys and encourage people to walk and cycle for commuting, leisure and exercise purposes.”
Click here to find out more about the Green Loop project and the regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon.
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From 1 April 2024, the responsibility for LEP functions across the Enterprise M3 LEP region has transferred to Hampshire County Council and Surrey County Council.
The Enterprise M3 Board met for the last time in March 2024 and Enterprise M3 LEP is no longer operating as an organisation.
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