THE public can vote for The Mid Sussex District Council Design Awards for the first time.

The awards celebrate good design in many forms.

For the first time the public are being invited to vote for the scheme which is their favourite, in the People’s Choice Award.

The Mid Sussex Design Awards take place every three years to recognise the importance of high quality design in enhancing the district.

For the first time the Awards will include a ‘People’s Choice’ vote, open until August 15.

Each of the shortlisted projects are on display in the MSDC reception area and details of the projects are online at www.midsussex.gov.uk/designawards.

Residents are invited to browse, find out more, and submit their top three favourites.

Votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced as a key part of the award ceremony taking place in October.

Winners will be presented with their awards by the Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames MP at an event in Meridian Hall, East Grinstead.

All winners receive a commemorative plaque which may be fixed to the awarded building.

“There have been some fantastic submissions and I would urge residents to get involved and make their own choice of winner through this first ever People’s Choice Award,” said Councillor Andrew MacNaughton.

“We are keen to share more details about the shortlisted projects and it will be interesting to see if local people share our excitement.”

Schemes have been shortlisted in the following categories and residents are invited to vote for any of the projects:

- Residential Extensions and Small Works

- Small Residential Schemes (less than 10 dwellings including single houses)

- Large Residential Schemes (10+ dwellings, including care/retirement homes) on sites which are previously undeveloped

- Large Residential Schemes (10+ dwellings, including care/retirement homes) on brownfield sites which have been previously developed

- Non-residential schemes (including hotels)

- Conservation and Heritage schemes

- Sustainability.