v AVAILABLE ON ALL DEVICES v 23rd April 2026 • The HERALD • Page 71 ASK A PROFESSIONAL Outstanding Buildings Celebrated In New Forest National Park Authority Building Design Awards A tiny cob cottage, a renovated 1970s bungalow, an accessible educational space, and solar-panelled car ports at a major visitor attraction have all been recognised in the New Forest National Park Authority’s (NPA) Building Design Awards 2025. The awards recognise projects that demonstrate outstanding design, sustainability, and sensitivity to the National Park’s distinctive landscape and heritage. Best Conservation Project was Rose Cottage in Frogham. Having stood empty for several years, this Grade II listed thatched cottage had fallen into disrepair. Originally built of clay cob more than 200 years ago, the building had incompatible cement render and little structural support. A er consulting with the NPA’s heritage conservation team, the owner restored the home using traditional materials and techniques, preserving the building’s historic and architectural character. A single-storey lean-to extension was sympathetically rebuilt, with Rose of Jerico tallow limewash matched to the cottage’s original colour. Rose Cottage is a rare example of an ‘encroachment cottage’, o en built on the edges of Crown land, sometimes in a single night. Judges described the project as ‘an exemplary celebration of the New Forest vernacular,’ praising the owner’s dedication, knowledge and use of skilled heritage cra speople. e owner thanked Salisbury-based Favonius Architects; structural engineers at Romsey-based Andrew Waring Associates, and Salisburybased builders Brian Franklin and Sons for their part in the restoration process. Best Green Project was awarded to Paultons Park Solar Canopies. e theme park near Romsey has recently introduced four solar car ports and battery storage to its existing parking area. e car ports have a cantilever design by local architects Studio Four with more than a thousand solar panels tted to a streel framework. e car ports are 4.5 metres at the highest point, and 2.7 metres at the lowest, allowing ample room for vehicles to park underneath. In total, the car ports cover 173 spaces and have generated 770,000 kWh annually – with 82% used on site. As of March 2025, Paulton’s Park has saved 68 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of Rose Cottage after restoration, Architect: Favonius Architects (Credit: Lori Butler) planting 4,000 trees. e judges called the solar canopy project ‘an exemplary green scheme’, praising its contemporary yet highly functional design and innovative reuse of brownfield land. They also highlighted the scheme’s minimal impact on the National Park’s landscape character, noting its sensitive siting and thoughtful integration as key reasons it won Best Green Project. e project makes a positive contribution to addressing the impacts of climate change and respects the New Forest’s status as a nationally protected landscape. e award for Best Residential Building went to 8 Moorlands Close, Brockenhurst. is chalet bungalow, built in the 1970s, is now sympathetically extended for exible, long-term living. e design includes 200mm of external wall insulation; high performance triple glazing throughout; a new warmdeck roof system and under oor insulation; air source heat pump with under oor heating, and solar panels with battery storage. Careful window placement, shading and natural ventilation ensure that temperatures remain comfortable throughout the year, without the need for mechanical cooling. Continued on page 73 Solar Car Ports at Paultons Park, Architect: Studio Four. (Credit: Paultons Park)
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