FROM thatched cottages to eco homes and historic houses to beach huts, the New Forest National Park is renowned for the character of its buildings.

Now the New Forest National Park Authority is rewarding high quality design by asking people to nominate their favourite building which has been completed in the last three years.

The New Forest Building Design Awards recognise the best new developments in the National Park, with new buildings, larger developments and extensions eligible for an award. This year a new category of best green building has been introduced to mark the 70th anniversary of National Parks which Government is celebrating with a nationwide Year of Green Action.

Now in its fifth year, the awards have previously recognised everything from a new-build housing scheme in Lyndhurst; to Brockenhurst College’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) building; a traditional thatched cottage in Woodgreen and Lepe Country Park’s new visitor centre and cafe.

Around 900 planning applications are submitted in the National Park each year — 85 per cent of which are approved – and the awards scheme is another way to highlight the importance of good design in the National Park.

Nominations can be made by anyone living in or visiting the New Forest National Park and must be for a high standard design that has been completed in the last three years.

Deputy Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority’s Planning Committee, Gordon Bailey, said: "As the planning authority for the National Park, we join up with local communities to set out what makes their area special so we can protect it. Through our planning policies and the detailed design guidance, we’re constantly looking to improve the quality of building design in the National Park. These awards support that process, so we hope to receive many nominations from local residents, visitors, developers and parish councils."

People are welcome to nominate their own buildings and awards will be given in the following categories:

•Best residential scheme (household extensions, new dwellings, conversions to residential)

•Best non-residential scheme (industrial units, boat sheds, outbuildings not in residential use)

•Best conservation project (extensions to a Listed Building, restoration of a Listed Building, repair of a Building at Risk)

•Best green building – showcasing sustainable construction and materials

Nominations are open until December 31 2019 and the winners will be chosen in the new year by a panel of members drawn from the National Park Authority’s Planning Committee.

* Submit your nomination at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/buildingawards.