An office development in Cheltenham has been named the best new commercial workplace in the South West.
Honeybourne Place, on Jessop’s Avenue, scooped the accolade in the 'Best Speculative New Buildings in the South of England and South Wales' category at the British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards.
It will now go forward to the national BCO Awards, which will be announced in January 2021.
Cheltenham-based private investment and asset management firm Formal Investments is behind the development, which is already 82 per cent let out.
The BCO said the building had a "winning combination of entrepreneurial flair and great design” and "oozed quality and attention to detail”.
Nicholas King, director of Formal Investments, said: “We are thrilled that Honeybourne Place has won a BCO award as one of the very best office developments in a region that stretches from Kent to Cardiff and beyond, and includes major commercial centres such as Bristol and Reading and the Thames Valley, which is a vastly greater budget area to be up against.
“It was always our ambition to create such a first-class modern and ambitious development in Cheltenham and it is thanks to the excellence and commitment of everyone involved that we brought Honeybourne Place to life in such style, an achievement now celebrated by the BCO.”
The property is named to reflect the history of the Honeybourne Line that linked Cheltenham’s St James Station with Honeybourne in Worcestershire and onwards to Stratford, according to Formal Investments.
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It has 63,000 square feet of office space across five floors including solar-control glazing and shading, and renewable energy from photovoltaic panels.
Paul Ainsworth, senior interior designer at Yiangou Architects, which designed the interior of the building, said it was "inspired by the surrounding trees".
"We have used materials such as stone, natural timber, aged brass and leather, with luxurious green velvets and even a fire to create a welcoming, pleasant and memorable space," he said.
Tracey Crews, director of planning at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “Honeybourne Place has delivered a high-quality scheme adding greater choice into the Cheltenham office accommodation market.
“The developer worked positively and proactively with the planning service, leading to timely and efficient planning consent.”
The architect of Honeybourne Place was Roberts Limbrick of Gloucester; the contractor was Barnwood Construction of Gloucester; and the interior designer was Yiangou Architects of Cirencester. The lettings agent is THP Chartered Surveyors.
Formal Investments also saw another of its development recognised at the BCO Awards this year.
Formal House, on St Georges Place in Cheltenham, was a finalist in the 'Refurbished/Recycled Workplace' category.