CABE, the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space, has awarded Places Matter! the architecture centre for the Northwest £40,925 in support of its activities in 2010 – 2011. The new funding is part of £900,000 CABE is giving to 21 architecture and built environment centres across England for projects aligned with CABE’s core work: built environment education; promoting regional design review; and training for design and built environment professionals.

CABE’s funding decision will support Places Matter! in widening the capabilities of the Northwest Design Review Panel following the affiliation of regional design review services with CABE earlier this year. Since its creation in 2007 Places Matter! has reviewed over 145 unique schemes from over three quarters of the region’s local authorities representing over £2.7 billion of investment. For 2010 Places Matter! will develop a number of case studies to reinforce the importance of bringing significant development schemes to Design Review.

The funding will also support the developing Places Matter! Education programme, providing professional development to teachers delivering the Construction and Built Environment Diploma: to date Places Matter! Education has delivered three highly successful workshops bringing together design professionals and teachers to share learning and expertise. CABE will also support the continuing delivery of Building for Life training in the Northwest: in 2009 Places Matter! provided Building for Life assessor training to 40 of the region’s local authorities, and will expand the programme in 2010. Similarly CABE’s funding will support the ongoing development of Manual for Streets training in the Northwest: two popular and successful Manual for Streets training workshops have already been delivered in the region this year with three more taking place in early 2010. Following overwhelming demand for the training the programme will continue to expand.

Alison Grant, Places Matter! Business Development Manager, said: ‘We are delighted by CABE’s decision to award funding to Places Matter! supporting our ongoing programme of innovative built environment activities, advocating for and promoting high quality placemaking in the Northwest.’

Caroline Fraser, Head of regions at CABE, said: ‘What all these projects share is an ambition to inspire local demand for good design. We particularly like the way in which so many architecture centres have developed inspiring education programmes to involve young people with the spaces and places around them.’

The regional funding programme has made awards since 2002 to help support and strengthen the centres. Applicants had to demonstrate that their proposal would increase public understanding and involvement in architecture and the built environment, and help create better designed buildings, spaces and places.