The new £6 million exhibition and visitor centre at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, west London, which opened in March last year, has won a prestigious industry award. The Hillingdon Council-owned building won the Best Public Service Building accolade at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Awards for the London region, going forward for the national final in November.
The building is visually stunning and its design embraces the central themes of flight and planes. The judges were impressed with its interesting shape, saying that it pays fitting tribute to the RAF on its 100th anniversary.
After becoming custodians of the Battle of Britain Bunker in 2016, taking over responsibility from the Ministry of Defence, Hillingdon Council secured £1 million in government funding to carry out essential repairs. It also invested £6 million itself in the new Exhibition and Visitor Centre, to recognise this important part of the borough’s heritage.
“The council is extremely pleased to have won this accolade and be shortlisted once again for a national LABC Award. The Battle of Britain Bunker Exhibition and Visitor Centre is an amazing building in both design and content, and it has been a real achievement to see it open in just two years after taking over responsibility for it from the Ministry of Defence,” said Cllr Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council.
“We wanted to ensure this national heritage site remains open for generations to come to visit and learn about the bunker’s pivotal role in the Second World War. Judging from the comments we’ve received so far, it’s proving popular with residents and visitors alike,” he continued.
At the awards, the exhibition and visitor centre beat 11 other shortlisted buildings, which included Great Ormond Street Hospital Phase 2B, The Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre in Romford and the United States of America Embassy. In total, Hillingdon Council was shortlisted in three categories: best builder, best extension, and best new individual home (which it also won).
