Networking: Creating Excellence Director wins top national award for innovation

The ‘Regeneration Network Award' 2007 from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) was awarded to Stephen Hewitt for the key role he played in leading on all aspects of the Morrisons' Symes development, in particular for his major contribution to the new @symes community building.

The building is a new base for community organisations and services including: HWCP; Hartcliffe Library; CATT community transport; Avon Fire and Rescue service; local police and education organisations and other community services.

Built as part of the new Morrisons redevelopment of the old Symes Avenue, @symes community building boasts energy saving features like solar panels and rainwater collection, ‘pods' for one-to-one advice and info services, a range of meeting rooms and a crèche space. Hartcliffe and Withywood residents were involved at all stages of the building's design.

The redevelopment of Symes Avenue took more than six years of negotiations involving Bristol City Council, Morrisons supermarket, local residents, HWCP, South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and other organisations.  The @symes community building was built as part of the commercial re-development.  HWCP, which is run by locally elected residents, now owns the building and continues to develop new services and resources to meet local needs.

"The award winners were chosen for the unique, innovative, informative and inspiring projects
they have been involved in," said Trish Cookson, from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).