Private sector schemes have flourished in this year's Housing Design Awards, with two thirds of the winners being private or public/private schemes. <p></p><p>Entry is open to developments of four or more dwellings in England and Northern Ireland, in two categories - &amp;"project&amp;", which must have detailed planning permission, or &amp;"completedÓ schemes. The overriding criterion is design excellence - internal, external and in the overall layout.</p><p>The eight-storey Deansgate Quay development in Manchester, developed by Crosby Homes (North West),won a completed scheme award, impressing the judges with the quality of the external finishes and detailing. </p><p>&amp;"It has made an important contribution to the regeneration of the Chapelfield area of Manchester, and meets a formidable city challenge with immense aplomb,&amp;" said the assessors.&amp;" </p><p>Winners of project awards include Countryside in Partnership's scheme at the Greenwich Millennium village, Urban Splash at Chorlton Park in Manchester, Taywood at Manston Road in Sturminster Newton and Ician Developments at Market Buildings in Manchester. </p><p>The awards are sponsored and judged by the DETR (now the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions), the National House-Building Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects, and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). This year's awards, held at the RIBA on …