A landmark development in Newquay has scooped a prestigious national award for its social impact.

Kew an Lergh, a mixed-use phase of the wider Nansledan ‘masterplan’, triumphed in the commercial development project of the year category at the RICS Awards Grand Final in London on Friday, October 4.

NANSLEDAN, NEWQUAY : AUGUST 22 2003 : Aerial photography of Nansledan, image shows nearly completed Kew An Lergh area, photographed by Hugh Hastings for the Duchy of Cornwall.
Kew An Lergh at Nansledan (Picture: Hugh Hastings) ( )

The development is a cluster of three Arts and Crafts-style buildings and marks the Duchy's first directly delivered commercial development there.

Kew An Lergh features a nursery school and two neighbouring buildings of two and three storeys, housing shops and offices around a landscaped central square. The buildings incorporate local Cornish granite and renewable energy via a ground source heat pump.

Other distinctive features include clay tiles made by the nursery children to decorate the exterior, a Duchy of Cornwall crest crafted from lead adorning one of the dormers, and a historic bell made in Bodmin nearly 400 years ago, now installed in the nursery’s bell tower.

NANSLEDAN, NEWQUAY : December 15 2023 : Christmas Market night featuring seasonal stalls in Kew An Lergh and a visit from Santa Claus, photographed by Hugh Hastings for the Duchy of Cornwall.
Christmas Market night featuring seasonal stalls in Kew An Lergh and a visit from Santa Claus, (Picture: Hugh Hastings) ( )

The development is home to a diverse range of businesses including Naturally Learning nursery, vintage clothing store Love of Lemons, café and deli Sabzi, The Loft yoga studio, Linggard and Thomas Accountants, Solve Web Media, television production company Beagle Media, and Jackson’s wine bar. The remaining unit is soon to be transformed into a community hub by the Nansledan Community Association, to be hired out by a diverse range of creative groups and clubs running social activities and support programmes.

NANSLEDAN, NEWQUAY : November 14 2023 : Opening day at the new Sabzi cafe and deli at Kew An Lergh, photographed by Hugh Hastings for the Duchy of Cornwall.
Sabzi restaurant in Kew An Lergh (Picture: Hugh Hastings) ( )

The judges praised the development for being a “small project with a big social impact.”

They cited both its sustainability credentials and its role as an exemplary community-led project that had created jobs and opportunities for local suppliers and contractors, while attracting a diverse range of local businesses.

The Duchy played the pivotal construction management role in delivering the project through the COVID-19 pandemic, assembling a high quality team from the skilled local workforce, to protect jobs and complete the project on time and budget, and to the Duchy’s exacting standards, despite all the challenges of the pandemic.

The judges said: “Whilst a relatively small-scale development, the impact this scheme has had on its locality, commercial environment and community cannot be overstated. Attracting creative and traditional commercial uses together with the much-needed provision of a nursery the scheme brings vitality to this part of the UK.

“The design enhances the local area and is becoming a focal point for the community while embracing sustainable principles including the enhancement of biodiversity in the development.”

Ben Murphy, estate director for the Duchy of Cornwall, said: "We are thrilled that Kew An Lergh has triumphed in such a competitive field. The judges’ recognition of the social value that community-led regeneration can bring is especially rewarding. This project has been a true collaboration, involving our construction team, local suppliers, architects, planners, and tenants, all working together to achieve the best possible outcome.

“Kew An Lergh has quickly become a vibrant home to an exciting and eclectic mix of businesses, as well as a real community hub."

The prestigious annual event, hosted by architectural and interior designer Oliver Heath, was held at The Park Plaza Riverbank. The event celebrates the UK’s most inspirational built projects that are having a significant positive impact on the communities they serve.

Category winners of all sizes and budgets from each of the 12 regional RICS Awards competed in the Grand Final for the chance to win their respective category as well as commercial development and land management and sustainable development categories which were judged at national level.

The winners of the special category awards for infrastructure, environmental impact, as well as the team awards for outstanding contribution to surveying for SME’s and large firms were announced alongside the Ambassador of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award winners.

RICS UK Awards national chair, Colin Harrop, said: “The panel of judges had the pleasure of visiting each winner in recent months to truly understand the scale and impact that these projects are having on communities. It’s great to celebrate the success of surveyors across the UK in delivering projects that are having significant impact on individuals and its local area, but also in promoting the important role of our profession.

“The industry continues to navigate its way through various challenges, and RICS is delighted to recognise the unwavering dedication of professionals in successfully ensuring these projects were completed through these awards. These teams and individuals should be incredibly proud of the part they have played in their community and wider local economy.”

The award is not the first RICS recognition for Nansledan. In 2020, the community’s primary school, Skol Nansledan, which opened in 2019, was awarded the prestigious RICS Social Impact Award.