DORCHESTER'S best new developments have been singled out for praise.

The town's Civic Societhanded the Derek Beauchamp awards to some of the best projects in the town at its AGM.

Whittled down to 14 nominations, the society chose the best new project completed between 2017 and 2024 and came up with three winners.

The winners were: the Dorchester Brewery building under the conversion and restoration category, the Dorset Museum extension in the new build category; and the Poundbury Nature Project under the environment category.

The society’s chairman, Ian Gosling, applauded the quality of all the nominated schemes and said it was 'a hard task' to select the three best.

The awards were presented by Sara Beauchamp, who was assisted by her grandchildren Bella and Jake Taylor. The awards are named after Mrs Beauchamp's late husband Derek, who was a past chairman of the society.

Sara Beauchamp and her grandchildren presenting the award certificates to James Dean, Director of Juno Developments of the Dorchester Brewery BuildingSara Beauchamp and her grandchildren presenting the award certificates to James Dean, Director of Juno Developments of the Dorchester Brewery Building (Image: Dorchester Civic Society) James Dean, director of Juno Developments, which is responsible for the Dorchester Brewery Building, picked up the award as did Sian Merriott, vice chair of Dorset Museum Board of Trustees for the award on the Dorset Museum Extension.

Miles King, CEO of People Need Nature or the Poundbury Nature Project, was unable to attend. All the winners will receive a civic society plaque for display on or near their schemes.

Sara Beauchamp and her grandchildren presenting the award certificates to Sian Merriot, the vice chair of Dorset Museum Board of TrusteesSara Beauchamp and her grandchildren presenting the award certificates to Sian Merriot, the vice chair of Dorset Museum Board of Trustees (Image: Dorchester Civic Society) Mr Beauchamp championed and worked on behalf of the society over many years, convinced that the town he loved benefitted from having a civic society.

He was closely involved in many aspects of Dorchester’s life not least through being a chartered surveyor. He passed away in August 2014.

Mr Gosling said that the society wishes to stimulate interest in the quality of Dorchester’s built and natural environment by recognising recent schemes that enhance where residents live.

This year marked the society’s 50th anniversary, and this year’s award is a re-launch of a scheme which ran before the Covid lockdowns.

As part of the 50 year celebrations, the society have also been looking to reinstate the town pump in Dorchester to see running water flow again, and, along with the Dorchester Association and the Dorset Society for Men, repaired the monument to Sir Frederick Treves in the Weymouth Avenue Cemetery. 

Subsequently, the society intends inviting nominations and making awards every two years.

Anyone can nominate a building or project they believe is of such a high standard of design as to merit recognition.

Nominations from members of the public are encouraged as well as from the scheme promoters, project designers and other professionals.