Jaywick Sands Sunspot business centre achieves national recognition at RIBA Journal MacEwen Awards 2024 Monday, 11th March 2024

A new covered market and business centre in Jaywick Sands on the Essex coast which Ingleton Wood helped to create has received prestigious recognition at the RIBA Journal (RIBAJ) MacEwen Awards 2024 with a Highly Commended title.

Our Practice was appointed to provide sustainability services as well as mechanical and electrical engineering to help deliver the £4.8 million Sunspot site which contains shopping units, a cafe, public toilets, a community garden, and space for community events.

Sunspot opened in summer 2023 and was named after the former amusement arcade which was demolished on the same seafront site around 20 years ago.

The project has now been announced as one of three Highly Commended projects at the annual RIBAJ MacEwen Awards which recognises architecture that tackles social, economic or environmental issues, such as community inclusion and sustainability.

The project was shortlisted from an original longlist of 32 entries and was the only scheme based in the East of England to make the top five, behind the runner-up and overall winner.

The award shortlisting states: “The new Sunspot business centre (brings) jobs, life and colour to the centre of the village.”

It adds: “Inside, there are practical workspaces with strong character that comes from generous volumes and robust materials assembled to allow future reuse. The deep red exposed steel frame features some surprisingly elegant details.”

Sunspot was designed by HAT Projects and funded by central government, Essex County Council and Tendring District Council (TDC). The project forms part of a larger regeneration plan for the wider Jaywick area being managed by TDC.

Wes Henderson, Director, Building Services Engineer, at Ingleton Wood’s Colchester office, said: “We have a long-standing successful relationship with Tendring District Council and were thrilled to support their vital regeneration plans for the Jaywick area by helping to shape and create the state-of-the-art Sunspot site, from initial conception to completion.

“The new site has already created a positive and meaningful impact with the local community and receiving such acclaimed specialist recognition with the Highly Commended award at the RIBAJ MacEwen Awards is testament to everyone’s expertise and dedication.

“We look forward to seeing how Sunspot continues to evolve and further meet the needs of the Jaywick and wider Essex community.”