Places Matter! picks its Christmas Crackers

Taylor Wimpey, Wigan Council, Barratt, city residents group Engage, and Place North West are among this year's recipients of festive honours from architecture centre Places Matter!.

The annual awards recognise 'outstanding contributions to design and the built environment' and 'celebrate the fresh, challenging and lively responses its winners each bring to their own areas of work'. The Places Matter! 2011 Christmas Crackers are:

Mark Calvert, senior land manager, Taylor Wimpey for recognising the unique setting of Orica, Shevington, Wigan and responding with a place-making approach to this distinctive site.

Christopher Carroll, urban design planning officer, Wigan Council for his contribution to design quality through North West Design Review and the North West Local Authority Building for Life Network.

Ian Hilliker, technical director of Barratt Homes Manchester, for supporting good design through the engagement of a quality architect to deliver a highly aspirational housing at Speke Hall Avenue, Liverpool.

Place North West, for the whole team in recognition of their sector knowledge, professionalism and humour in delivering news, generating debate and delivering content about the property sector in the North West. (a great honour, we're chuffed, thanks – ed)

Gerry Proctor, chairman of Engage, for championing debate and activity that reflect the interests of Liverpool's 25,000 city centre and waterfront residents.

Annie Atkins, Places Matter! programme director, said: "The 2011 Crackers demonstrate how the built environment sector in the North West has responded positively during a difficult year. Cracker recipients this year include a residents group, the media, house builders and local authority staff. We wish them all a merry xmas and a prosperous new year."

Places Matter! is an architecture and built environment service that works across the public and private sectors to drive up the skills and knowledge of all those involved in new development, promoting good design and encouraging strong client leadership.