Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre in Hayes won the top gong in the community benefit category at the Royal Institute of Chartered of Surveyors (RICS) London Awards on Wednesday evening.

The facility received the accolade for redeveloping Botwell Green into an urban park which provides a number of sports, leisure, community and educational facilities.

Chairman of the RICS Awards London Judges, Barry Woodman, said: “This ambitious project has incorporated measures to improve access, reduce anti-social behaviour and create a valued hub for the local community.”

The centre boasts a 25 metre, 8-lane competition swimming pool, learner pool, cafeteria, family/adult learning facilities, gymnastic centre, sports hall, fitness centre and library with public meeting facilities. Outside there are two multi-use group activity areas, open-space play areas and an all-weather floodlit football pitch.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, Cllr Henry Higgins, said: “It’s great that the council has been recognised for its work in redeveloping this site. Hillingdon has some of the best sports and leisure provisions around and the Botwell Green facility is a fantastic example of that.

“We hope these facilities will continue to be enjoyed by our residents and help them achieve their sporting and academic aspirations.”

Each year the RICS Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in the built environment across the four categories: Building Conservation; Community Benefit and Regeneration and Sustainability.

Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre along with the other London category winners will now go on to compete with regional winners from across the country at the RICS Awards grand final in October.

To find out what’s happening in your local leisure centre visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/leisure