A BRIGHTON architects has won a prestigious international award for an eco-friendly country park facility.

Lakeside Centre is located within Eastleigh’s Lakeside Country Park in Hampshire.

It beat more than 100 entrants to be awarded an International Green Apple Environment Award in honour of its environmentally-friendly construction.

The centre’s architects, R H Partnership, based in Foundry Street,was honoured by the judges for its sustainable design for the low-energy building.

R H Partnership Director Phillip Naylor said:“We are delighted that the new Lakeside Centre has received this level of national recognition in winning such a prestigious environmental award.

“Consideration for the social, economic and environmental impact of the build was intrinsic to our early design process of the Lakeside Centre, and at the forefront of our thinking at every stage of the project.

“It has resulted in a future-proofed facility that can be flexible and adapted over time to changes in climate, demand for new sources of energy, and developments in technology.

“It is also sustainable to run and fully embraces the beauty of its lakeside setting.”

Eastleigh Borough Council’s Cabinet Lead for the Environment Cllr Rupert Kryle said: “Lakeside Centre was planned from the start to be an innovative low-energy building without compromising the quality of the environment.”