Khan has designed a visitor facility for Brockholes wetland and woodland nature reserve in Preston; the 106ha Lancashire Wildlife Trust site which was purchased in 2006 under the multi million pound North West Development Agency/ Forestry Commission land regeneration scheme, Newlands.

Khan’s design, entitled “A Floating World”, was selected this month from a shortlist of five by a judging panel led by design expert Wayne Hemingway.  The panel believed that Khan had fully embraced the Newlands partnership’s brief to inspire and encourage people to visit the site and engage with the natural world, whilst remaining sustainable and maximising local resources.
 
The winning concept is based on a cluster of buildings constructed largely of wood and other sustainable materials, and it resembles an ancient marshland village.  It has been designed as part of wider plans to regenerate the former quarry site into a premier visitor attraction of national and international significance.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust, NWDA and FC will now work together, and with Adam Khan Architects to explore opportunities to make the plans for Brockholes become a reality.

Brockholes sits in a key strategic location aside junction 31 of the M6 motorway. Under Newlands, there are plans to turn Brockholes into a visitor attraction that will not only be a landmark centre of excellence for recreation and wildlife, but will also act as a catalytic driver for economic and social development within the local area.  If developed, Brockholes will also signpost visitors to the range of landscape, recreation and biodiversity assets present in this part of England's Northwest.

On announcement of the winner, Peter White, Head of Infrastructure & Development at the Northwest Regional Development Agency said:

“This site has the potential to become an important visitor attraction for the region, building on its rich natural assets and impressive biodiversity. The Agency is supporting its development through Newlands, a wide reaching scheme that aims to reclaim brownfield land and transform it into thriving community open spaces, and has so far invested £800,000 in Brockholes. The chosen design will not only create an inspirational open space for the local community to enjoy but will also enhance a key gateway into Lancashire and attract further investment into the area. We look forward to working with our partners to progress these plans.”

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