This award was given for the six year transformation of the Grade II listed Hadspen House, and its extensive heritage landscape, into a major regional visitor attraction.

The estate opened to the public as The Newt with historic buildings and landscape restored and put back to productive use, alongside vibrant new buildings and gardens. Together with cafes, food and beverage shop, and its ‘The Story of Gardening’ museum The Newt has become a favoured destination for the local community as well as those visiting from further afield.

• The project has attracted more than 65,000 visitors since it opened
• Local materials, local labour, and local knowledge have all been key to the project from its inception
• Of the more than 250 jobs created approximately 75% are employees from the local area generating benefits for the local economy

The ‘estate ecosystem’ ranges from using estate timber to fuel its biomass energy centre, to growing and producing much of the food and beverage served.

The project has attracted a series of direct positive impacts upon the local community including the reconfiguration of a dangerous section of a nearby motorway. Two new-build major museums at the estate facilitate school visits through a local education partnership programme.

The economic impact was significant through the construction phase, ranging from using local suppliers for goods and services, to indirect visitor spend in the local area.