An INNOVATIVE project at a specialist college near Oswestry has been shortlisted for a prestigious building award.

The Hydrotherapy Centre at Derwen College in Gobowen has been named as a finalist in the West Midlands Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards.

With a specialist hydrotherapy pool, the new centre has been shortlisted for the Best Public Service or Educational Building Award.

Derwen College estates and facilities manager, Paul Lindop, is proud to see the centre receiving some recognition.

He said: “We were delighted to be shortlisted in the LABS Building Excellence Awards for the Bradbury Hydrotherapy Pool.

“The state-of-the-art pool, which opened in September 2019 was built to support students in their physiotherapy and sensory needs.

“To create a building that was innovative in design and build, whilst focused on students’ and therapists’ needs, involved outstanding partnerships between architects, builders and therapists.

“We are very proud to be recognised for such a prestigious award.”

The hydrotherapy pool building was designed by Gareth Edwards of local Architectural practice DPA Design and constructed by builders Jones Brothers, in collaboration with the college’s therapies team.

Principal of Derwen College, Meryl Green, praised the work of those who designed and built the centre.

She said: “These awards recognise high-quality design and build, and to be shortlisted is testament to the work carried out by a dedicated team who went to great lengths to understand the needs of college and students.

“The hydrotherapy pool has benefitted from generous donations from many community groups and leading grant makers including The Bradbury foundation, St James’s Place Charitable Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation.”

The winners of the awards will be announced virtually on Thursday, September 10.

Awards events co-ordinator Jodie Nash said that organisers were determined to recognise the finalists virtually.

She said: “Competition has been stronger than ever this year and being shortlisted is a great accomplishment.

“Our judges have seen a number of fantastic projects and we believe it’s still important to celebrate the projects completed throughout our regions.

“Therefore we’ve made the decision to celebrate our award winners digitally for 2020.”