GRAYSHOTT architects Plan A beat off stiff competition to win three awards in the annual Waverley borough-wide competition to recognise outstanding new development.

The company’s pioneering design for a stand-alone new building with a rainbow canopy to expand a junior school, won the best new building and best new community building awards and was also voted favourite development by the public in the people’s choice award.

The Waverley Design Awards were launched in 1995 and since then, the bi-annual event has grown to include education awards for Waverley schools, colleges and universities.

The expert judges who selected the award winners, included RIBA South East chairman Laith Anayi and Peter Mills from the Institute of Historic Building Conservation. The judges joined Waverley Mayor Mike Band and design champion David Else at the presentation ceremony, at St Catherine’s School, in Bramley.

Waverley commissioned a glass artist to top its people’s choice award trophy with a replica of the company’s distinctive canopy.

Plan A joint director Paul Ginever said: “It’s very exciting to get three awards. We are very grateful both to the judges and members of the public.

“The project was exceptionally challenging but thoroughly enjoyable because everyone was 100 per cent committed. We have been in Grayshott for 10 years and we chose the village because it’s such good connections to the South East, and it’s a really nice place with a good community spirit.”

Waverley’s planning portfolio holder councillor Brian Adams, was impressed by incredibly high standard of entries, said: “It’s great to see new development in Waverley being beautifully constructed, with thought about how it can enhance the surrounding environments.”

A special award for innovative design was won by Langham Court, the Hindhead dementia care home.