The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) is holding a competition to design some new buildings for the site.

It is the second time the YDNPA has run its Best Building Design Competition, which aims to promote examples of both innovative and sensitive developments.

Andrew McCullagh, the YDNPA’s deputy head of planning, said: “It’s often thought that, to get planning permission in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it is always necessary to make new building work look just like its surroundings – as though it has always been there.

“It is true that this 'safe' approach is often successful in getting planning permission and, indeed, where a village or group of buildings is particularly unspoilt, this is a sensible guiding principle.  

“However, there is a tendency for it to result in familiar building styles that do little to create excitement or give visual stimulation. As a design approach, it does not necessarily produce buildings that are harmful or ugly – but neither does it encourage architects to experiment with new techniques and materials which, with careful handling, could be used to add vitality and interest without harming their setting.

“It also tends to discourage efforts to use new techniques to make buildings more sustainable and energy efficient – an increasingly important consideration.”

The competition is open to anyone who owns or has in any way been involved in a development that has been substantially completed since 1  January 2003, or from anyone else who simply thinks that a particular development has been successfully carried out and is worthy of an award.

Nominations have to be received by 11 June, after which finalists will be shortlisted. All finalists will then be visited during July by a team of four judges, chaired by architect Robin Snell and including locally-based conservation architect Paul Crosby.

There will be an awards ceremony in the autumn to coincide with the publication of an illustrated brochure, when winners will be presented with commemorative plaques.