The Battle of Britain Memorial in Capel-le-Ferne has won a title celebrating the best innovative construction designs in the south east.

It topped the Best Small Commercial Building category in the Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Awards held in Brighton last month.

The awards attracted more than 45,000 applications across multiple categories with winners from across the Dover district.

The memorial's project team was made up of Epps Construction Ltd, Godden Allen Lawn, The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Woodley Coles and Crofton Design.

Architect firm Godden Allen Lawn, based in Folkestone, designed the unique building which was opened by The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in March.

The building houses the Scramble Experience in one wing and an education centre in the other side with a cafe on top appearing like a cockpit.

Visitor numbers to the centre have been much higher than the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust – which runs the whole memorial site – expected before the Royal opening.

The building pays homage to the RAF pilots from Britain and her allies including across the Commonwealth as well as Polish and Czech pilots fighting against the Nazis and the threat of German invasion in 1940.

It will now go through to the national finals in November.

Three other buildings in Dover district were finalists in the awards.

The Visitor Centre at Samphire Hoe was placed in the Best Inclusive Building and Best Public Service Building.

The Lanes in Ash was put up for the Best Small New Housing Development and the New Pharos House in Dover for the Best Change of Use of An Existing Building or Conversion.

DDC building control put them up for nomination.

Martin Leggatt, head of building control at DDC said: “We are delighted that these great examples of the excellent construction work in the district have been recognised.

"As a wide range of regeneration projects continues to take shape in the district, we were very pleased to nominate these buildings, and we continue to work with contractors to ensure that excellent standards are maintained across the area.”