LONDON.- From the 335 entries received, 44 projects been shortlisted for the annual Civic Trust Awards, which takes place on Friday 12th March at St George’s Hall in Liverpool. The Awards Ceremony will be hosted by two of the Awards Patrons; architect and TV Presenter George Clarke (Channel 4 – The Home Show) will present the Awards with the keynote speech delivered by Chris Wilkinson OBE RA, founder of Wilkinson Eyre Architects. The awards are given to projects that are culturally, socially or economically beneficial, and make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment.

George Clarke said: "I am delighted to be presenting this years Civic Trust Awards which aim to recognise excellence in design whilst having a positive impact on local communities they serve. From cafés to churches, housing to hospitals, public realm to public art, the Civic Trust Awards offer an opportunity for community focussed built environment success to be celebrated on a truly national level."

Amongst the shortlisted entries this year:

• Midland Hotel in Morecambe
• St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London
• Liverpool One
• Creative Arts Units, Aberystwyth
• Wexford Opera House, Republic of Ireland
• Bodegas Protos winery in Valladolid, Spain
• Carrochan, Loch Lomond and the Trosachs National Park Authority HQ, Balloch, Scotland

Successful projects last year included St Pancras Station in London; The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton; the Treetop walkway at Kew Gardens in Surrey; and The Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool.

There are a number of sponsored Special Awards for 2010 which will also be presented at the event: These include:

• The Inclusive Design Award sponsored by Bristan
• The Special Award for East Midlands sponsored by East Midlands Development Agency
• The Special Award for Scotland sponsored by Glasgow City Council, City of Edinburgh Council and Falkirk Council.

The Civic Trust Awards is will also present a new Special Award for 2010 - a memorial to former Director of the Civic Trust, Michael Middleton CBE who sadly passed away in August last year, aged 91. The Award will be presented to a conservation project or new build within a conservation area, selected by the National Panel from this year’s group of Award winning schemes.

Further Special Awards will also be presented to projects which have demonstrated outstanding credentials in Sustainability, Community Engagement and Restoration.

To view the full shortlist, or to book tickets for the Civic Trust Awards Ceremony please visit www.civictrustawards.org.uk