A NEW environmentally friendly public building in Stanpit has just won top prize in a regional competition for its contribution to sustainable development.

The Stanpit Marsh Information Centre, which opened in September last year, beat four other competitors to win the honour at the Local Authority Building Control excellence awards for the south west.

A composting toilet along with the maximum use of timber, rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic panels and a wind generator all helped the new information centre win the prestigious award.

Deputy mayor of Christchurch Cllr Josephine Spencer said: “We are delighted to have won this award as it endorses what we set out to achieve with this building – something which fits into the natural setting and which is fully sustainable.

“A lot of hard work went into the concept and design of the building but to see it in place now as an award-winning building has made it all worthwhile.”