MANSFIELD bus station has won a prestigious national award for the contribution it has made to the people of the town since it opened last year.

The building has scooped the Community Benefit category at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards 2014, held at the Savoy Hotel in London. (Friday Oct 17).

The £9m bus station won the East Midlands heat of the same award in May and beat 11 other regional finalists from across the country to pick up the national award.

“This project has provided a badly-needed new bus station in the town centre with a bridge link to the railway station, replacing an outdated facility built some fifty years ago,” said Michael Wyldbore-Smith, National Community Benefit Judge, at the Awards.

“There was extensive consultation during the design stage and it is both attractive and imaginative and has the feel of a small airport terminal, providing a pleasant and safe environment for passengers.

“It has become the hub which serves not only a wide local area but also surrounding towns and cities. Over five million passengers use it and numbers are increasing, proving its benefit to the community.”

Coun Kevin Greaves, chairman of the County Council’s transport and highways committee, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Mansfield bus station has been recognised by the RICS in these prestigious awards,” said

“It is a great building and this award recognises how well that building serves the people of Mansfield and how it has contributed to the ongoing economic regeneration of the town.”

Coun Kate Allsop, portfolio holder for economic regeneration at Mansfield District Council, added: “This state-of-the-art building is a thriving hub in the middle of Mansfield and a very worthy winner of this award.

”I am thrilled that the benefits it has brought to our town have been recognised nationally.”