THREE members of a Nailsworth architect firm are delighted to have received awards from the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE).

Rachael Emous-Austin, Grant Hitchcock-Yoo and Matthew Austin, of Austin Design Works, all won an award for outstanding work on individual projects.

They received their respective awards from Viscount Bledisloe on October 4.

Grant was rewarded for his design of a chic Cotswold bolt-hole, creating a contemporary holiday home from the remains of a ruinous agricultural outbuilding within a newly-planted vineyard.

Rachael received recognition for her landscape design work on Horsley Play Project – working with a group of volunteers and the parish council to create a revitalised play area for children in the heart of the village.

Finally, Matthew won an award for a unique but contemporary design of the new clubhouse at Minchinhampton Rugby Club which fits in with its surroundings.

Matthew was thrilled for the whole firm. 

He said: “We're really pleased to receive this recognition from CPRE.

"We pride ourselves on creating buildings and landscapes which are appropriate to their context and sit well in their surroundings, so we're delighted that this has been noticed by people who care about these things.”

The CPRE Awards are in their 10th year and their aim is to recognise and celebrate projects which are exemplars of good practice.

Projects must demonstrate sustainability, involve improvements to the environment, whether natural or built and be visible from public places.