Buildings in south Bucks have scooped construction awards for having the best accessible facilities and housing developments.

Wycombe Leisure Centre, which opened earlier this year, was named the Best Inclusive Building at the regional Local Authority Building Control Excellence awards, which celebrate the best of the construction industry.

The £25 million Wycombe landmark was recognised for its design that “encourages greater all-ability participation” in sport, and the consultation Wycombe District Council undertook with existing users and clubs of the old sports centre about new facilities that should be provided in the centre.

New amenities include a fully accessible bowling rink, an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a moveable floor to allow full access and a changing village which includes a ‘changing places’ facility with a hoist and adjustable height bench.

To make the centre more accessible for users with limited mobility, there is a drop off zone outside the main entrance and a number of accessible bays in the onsite car park. Two lifts inside give easy access to the upper floor and the squash courts, which have doors which are wide enough to accommodate sports chair.

There is also a viewing area overlooking the pool which includes wheelchair viewing positions.

WDC’s building control team also won two awards for housing developments - Best Individual New House for the Turnstones in Penn and Best Small Housing Development for the Mark Stone Homes development in Old Kiln Road, Flackwell Heath.

As regional winners, the leisure centre and housing developments will be entered into the national finals in November.