What Does a Civic Trust Awards Regional Assessor Do, and Why Does It Matter?
As Richard Dryden begins the latest round of Civic Trust Awards regional assessments, looking at projects that could go on to be recognised in the 2027 awards, it feels like a good time to explain a little more about the process and why he continues to volunteer his time to be part of it.
Richard, Founder of GRD Group UK (GRD), has volunteered as a Regional Assessor for the Civic Trust Awards for over 15 years, giving him the opportunity to visit and assess some exceptional projects across the region.
And some of the projects Richard has been involved in assessing have gone on to receive significant national recognition.
From Hyde Park Picture House to Horatio’s Garden
The Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds, by Page\Park Architects, was Highly Commended in the 2025 Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design.
The redevelopment was recognised for transforming a historic building into a more accessible and inclusive community space while retaining its heritage and character. Among its improvements was barrier-free ‘street to seat’ access, allowing wheelchair users to enter through the same main entrance as other visitors rather than via the rear fire exit.
More recently, Horatio’s Garden Sheffield & East, designed by Harris Bugg Studio, received both a 2026 Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design and the Special Award for Neuro-Inclusive Places.
Designed for people living with spinal injuries, their families and clinical staff, the garden was recognised for its approach to physical, emotional and sensory needs. Its level, generous routes allow wheelchair users, hospital beds and assistive equipment to move around the garden freely, while the design also provides different spaces for privacy, contemplation and social connection.
These are exactly the kinds of projects that demonstrate why the assessment process matters, looking beyond how a building or space appears to understand how successfully it works for the people who actually use it.
What Are the Civic Trust Awards?
The Civic Trust Awards have been recognising outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment since 1959.
Projects are assessed not simply on how they look, but on the contribution they make to the people and places around them. Award-winning projects are expected to demonstrate excellence in architecture or design while being sustainable, accessible and making a positive civic contribution.
Alongside the main Civic Trust Awards are the Selwyn Goldsmith Awards for Universal Design, established in 2011 in recognition of architect and universal design pioneer Selwyn Goldsmith.
These awards specifically celebrate places that are responsive, flexible, welcoming and easy to use, enabling people to use them with dignity and equality. Importantly, recognised projects are expected to go beyond minimum Building Regulations and demonstrate best practice in universal design.
What Does a Civic Trust Awards Regional Assessor Do?
Richard’s voluntary role as a Regional Assessor involves visiting and evaluating projects across the region as part of the awards process.
It’s a hands-on, detail-driven role that goes far beyond looking at drawings or reviewing a project from a desk.
Regional assessment considers areas including:
How spaces are experienced and used in practice
Accessibility and inclusive design
The quality of the architecture and design
How a project responds to its surroundings and users
Its wider civic, environmental and community contribution
The findings from Regional Assessment Teams form part of the wider judging process, with projects progressing to consideration by the National Judging Panel.
It means looking at buildings and spaces through the eyes of the people who actually use them, not simply asking whether they achieve technical compliance.
Why This Experience Matters for Inclusive Design
Richard’s involvement with the Civic Trust Awards complements the work we undertake through GRD:EDI.
Over more than 15 years of assessments, he has had the opportunity to experience first-hand:
Excellent examples of inclusive and accessible design
Common mistakes and missed opportunities
How buildings and public spaces perform once they’re actually in use
The difference between design intent and people’s real-world experience
That experience feeds directly into the way we approach our consultancy work.
It helps us provide practical, experience-based advice, challenge design decisions constructively and encourage project teams to consider accessibility and inclusion at the earliest possible stage.
What Does This Mean for GRD Clients?
For our clients, this experience provides another perspective alongside Richard’s professional work in accessibility and inclusive design.
We understand that achieving compliance is essential, but good inclusive design should go further than simply meeting minimum requirements.
Our role is to work alongside clients and design teams to help create buildings and spaces that work better for the widest possible range of people from the outset.
It means asking the right questions early, identifying potential barriers and considering how the decisions made on drawings will translate into someone’s actual experience of a finished building or space.
A Commitment to Better Places
At GRD, our goal is simple, to help create buildings and spaces that work for everyone.
Richard’s voluntary work with the Civic Trust Awards provides an opportunity to see some of the region’s most interesting projects first-hand and remain closely connected to evolving approaches to architecture, accessibility, universal design and community impact.
As he undertakes the latest round of regional assessments for projects that could be recognised in the 2027 awards, we’ll be watching with interest to see which schemes progress.
Ultimately, whether we’re assessing an award entry or advising on one of our own projects, the question at the heart of good inclusive design remains the same: How will people actually experience this place?
Planning a new development or reviewing the accessibility of an existing scheme? GRD:EDI works alongside clients, architects and design teams to embed accessibility and inclusive design from the outset.
