THE new £5 million Bury Hospice is already winning awards — just two months after opening its doors.

The centre, in Rochdale Old Road, Bury, was named the Best Community Building in the North West at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) regional awards.

It was recognised for its innovative and accessible design, the high quality and efficiency of the construction team, and excellent environmental performance of the completed building.

Hospice staff were presented with the award at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.

They will attend a national awards ceremony in November to find out if the hospice is the best community building in the country. Jacqui Comber, the hospice’s chief executive, said: “I am delighted to see that all our hard work and creativity have received this recognition and we look forward to attending the national awards in London.”Officers from Bury Council nominated the hospice for the award. Rob Thorpe, the council’s head of building control, said: “This quality project is a worthy winner of the best community building in the North West region.

“It is a fitting tribute to all of the development team. I wish Jacqui and her team all the very best in the national finals.”

The hospice was designed by Condy Lofthouse Architects and built by construction specialist Seddon. It has an inpatient ward with 12 bedrooms, a large daycare department and a range of specialist facilities for terminally ill patients and their families.

The hospice opened in March following a massive fundraising appeal, backed by the Bury Times and Radcliffe Times, which raised £2.5 million towards the cost. It replaces the original hospice, which opened in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, in 1991. It could be turned into a children’s hospice.