AN unassuming bus stop has been named as a finalist in The Farnham Society’s 2017 Architecture & Design Awards.

The new Shortheath Road bus waiting room tops the list of eight finalists, which also include Searchfield Homes’ restored Grade II-listed former hop house Heron Court in Ford Lane, Weydon School’s new Medici theatre and Churchill Retirement Living’s Hawthorn Lodge development in Long Bridge.

The other finalists are Lawday Farm’s new garage and workshop, houses at Bourne Mill in Guildford Road, the Oast House at 10 Green Lane and a residential development at 60/61 West Street.

The purpose of The Farnham Society’s Architecture & Design Awards is to encourage and stimulate architects, developers and contractors to undertake the highest level of design and workmanship in new buildings, and in preserving and improving existing ones.

Nominations were for a contemporary new build, or an improvement /modernisation, which should be sympathetic to the existing building and integrate well with its surroundings.

The judges’ appraisal of the nominated buildings is based on good design for their location, whether they fulfil their purpose and, ideally are environmentally sustainable.

Presentation of certificates and plaques to the winners of the Architecture and Design Awards (formerly known as Amenity Awards) will be made at the society’s annual meeting in May.

Winners of the last awards in 2015 were Daniel Hall, the Farnham Pottery, The Forge in Upper Church Lane and Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe.