Building Design
Building Design Awards
Celebrating good design in the National Park
From traditional thatched cottages to eco homes, and historic houses to beach huts, the New Forest National Park is renowned for the character of its buildings.
Our Building Design Awards recognise high quality design and the best new developments in the National Park, with residential schemes, non-residential schemes, conservation projects and green buildings all eligible for an award.
Alongside the updated National Park Design Guide (January 2022) and the national planning policy support for development that enhances local areas, the awards celebrate good design in the National Park.
New Forest National Park Building Design Awards recognise schemes completed over the last three years that enhance or protect the built environment of the National Park in the following categories:
- Best residential scheme (household extensions, new dwellings, conversions to residential)
- Non-residential scheme (employment or educational sites, community buildings, visitor attractions, outbuildings not in residential use)
- Best conservation project (extensions to a Listed Building, restoration of a Listed Building, repair of a Building at Risk)
- Best green building (showcasing sustainable construction and materials, or retrofit projects)
The winners are chosen by a panel of members drawn from the National Park Authority’s Planning Committee.
Previous Building Design Award Winners
2024 winners
Best Residential Scheme: Chestnut Plantation at Tatchbury Mount. The scheme replaced a 1950s bungalow with a sustainable and modern, open-plan new home. The property was designed by Lymington-based John Pardey Architects. Pic by Brotherton-Lock Photography
Best Green Building: The Clay Retreat at Norleywood. The single storey home has a pre-fabricated timber frame construction filled with blown paper insulation. The building has particularly high energy efficiency standards which go above and beyond current building regulations. Designed by architects PAD Studio in Lymington. Photo by Jim Stephenson.
Best Non-Residential Building: The Living Room at spudWORKS in Sway. Now a space for dementia care community use, it’s built on the base of a Victorian water tower. The design, by Delve Architects in London, has energy-efficient insulation, low energy lighting and makes the best use of natural daylight. It also celebrates and preserves a heritage feature in the landscape. Photo by Paul Close Photography.
Highly Commended - Best Residential Scheme: The Clay Retreat at Norleywood. Judges praised the clever shading on the large windows to reduce light pollution and help protect wildlife. Architects: PAD Studio. Photo: Jim Stephenson.
Highly Commended - Best Green Building: Chestnut Plantation. The judges praised its solar panels, air source heat pump and woodland management plan for the surrounding land to improve biodiversity. Architects: John Pardey. Pic: Brotherton-Lock Photography
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2023 winners
Best Green Building: Little Hill in Hyde. The residential scheme, designed by owner and architect David Hayhurst, replaced a run-down post-war bungalow with a highly energy-efficient home. Photo: David Hayhurst
Best Conservation Scheme: Wood End House near Lymington. This Grade II Listed building which had fallen into disrepair and had been unsympathetically altered in the past. Using a historic photo of the home as a guide, Ringwood-based Sheerin Bettle Architecture reintroduced a number of features including sash windows, original chimney designs, and heritage cast iron works. Photo: Sheerin Bettle Architecture.
Best non-residential Building: Unit One, Forest Corner Farm near Ringwood. Local architects Sheerin Bettle designed the new reception, consulting area and surgery for an existing veterinary hospital; replacing a large dominating corrugated tin-clad grain store and mill building.
Highly Commended - Best Green Building: Pannage Green in Lyndhurst. David Lovegrove Architecture took a holistic design approach to the new-build property to include a rainwater harvester, heat vent recovery system, triple-glazed windows, wildlife boxes and a pond. Pic by Geoff Rolls
Highly Commended - Best non-residential building: An outbuilding within the grounds of the Grade II Listed Minstead Lodge. Winchester-based TKLS Architects designed a new toilet block and wet room in place of an existing small lean-to toilet and pottery kiln.
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2022 winners
Best Green Project winner: Cameron’s Cottage at RSPB Franchises Lodge in Landford. The once-derelict estate cottage has been sympathetically refurbished and extended for use as a residential retreat for young people. The design, by Moorhouse Architecture, incorporates an impressive outdoor classroom, locally-sourced timber, solar panels, sustainable heating, and numerous homes for wildlife including bats and birds. Pic: Moorhouse Architecture
Best Residential Scheme: Tuckermill House in Boldre. An impressive modern extension which maximises light and views in a 1930s house. The scheme, by Forest Architecture, allows the Arts and Crafts character of the original home to be seen, while complementing it with a modern timber-clad extension. Pic: Richard Chivers Architectural Photography
Best Non-Residential Scheme: The Old Dairy in Sway. The former agricultural buildings at Cook’s Farm were repaired and converted into office space by Hordle-based Tuakana Construction. The scheme keeps most of the historic fabric of the existing buildings and recycles original materials. Hazelwood fencing, sustainable drainage and bat boxes also impressed the judges. Pic: Tuakana Construction
Best Conservation Project: Ice House at Beaulieu Palace. A structure dating back to 1870 which had fallen into disrepair. Conservation works by Andrew Waring Associates involved stabilising the Ice House (which was also used as an apple store in the second world war), reforming the arch between the entrance and the dome, and adding a door and interpretation boards.
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2020 winners
Best Green Building Award winner is a 10,000 sq. ft building at Peppa Pig World in Paulton’s Park. The building, which features a wildflower roof, windcatchers and sustainable drainage system was designed by Totton-based HPW Architecture
The Best Residential Scheme was awarded to architects Ben Pentreath Ltd and their client for the property Little Marsh Lodge in Beaulieu. The panel commended the proportions of the dwelling and the architects’ attention to detail.
The Best Non-Residential Scheme winner was awarded to the new gallery space created next to the listed Clock House on the Beaulieu Estate and was designed by Hampshire-based Plum Architects. The panel commended the design of the scheme, saying it fits well in a sensitive location and enhances the area, while providing a light internal space for the gallery.
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