The Pennine Lancashire Squared competition invited teams to submit Expressions of Interest to create world-class public space in Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn, Bacup, Clitheroe and Nelson.

Six shortlists have now been selected, each consisting of five teams, to come up with concept designs.

The competition, run by the Landscape Institute, was commissioned by Elevate, a regeneration agency working with partners from the public and private sectors to improve the housing market in Pennine Lancashire.

The contest was the brain child of the late Tony Wilson and his partner Yvette Livesey who proposed the competition through their work with Elevate as a means of attracting talent to the area, raising its profile and creating outstanding public spaces in each town.

It has attracted interest from designers all over the world.

A total of 26 landscape architecture and architecture teams were whittled down from 78 Expressions of Interest after a judging day last week.

Successful international entries include Balmori Associates Inc, based in New York, Dutch firm OKRA Landscape Architects and Mitchell + Associates, who are located in Ireland.

Four practices - Gillespies, Birds Portchmouth Russum, Landscape Projects and Taylor Young Limited - have made the shortlist for two different squares.

 Detailed site briefs will now be provided so shortlisted teams can develop concept designs. They will also be invited to attend an on-site briefing day to give them an opportunity to meet key stakeholders and they will be required to participate in a creative programme of community engagement.

The Landscape Institute, the chartered body for landscape architects, is running the competition, with the support of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The competition has received funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and is being implemented by the Boroughs of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, with support from Lancashire County Council. CABE Space is providing ongoing support for the development of Pennine Lancashire Squared.