West Devon's new 16-unit Okehampton Business Centre has notched up yet another accolade by winning the Best Small Renewable Energy Scheme at the prestigious South West Green Energy Awards.

Completed during the summer, the centre was up against tough competition with a record number of entries of exceptionally high standards across all categories.

The award from Regen South West is presented to projects which have gone beyond the legal and environmental minimum to achieve excellence.

The Okehampton Business Centre has already won an award of excellence from the Institution of Civil Engineers' Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method as well as the Best Sustainability Project in the Local Authority Building Control Awards.

The centre is the first business development on the 26-acre Opportunity Okehampton site, alongside Exeter Road. Funding for the whole scheme has come from a £3.25-million investment by the RDA, £2.48-million from the Objective Two European Development Fund and £650,000 from West Devon Borough Council.

The business centre's green credentials were key to its success and the building is expected to save up to 50 tonnes of carbon emissions each year – about 80% less than using conventional energy sources – through the unique way it has been designed.

Tracy Windemer, West Devon Borough Council's civil engineer, said: 'The quality of entrants was of a very high standard, so winning this award is a huge achievement. There is an increasing need for construction to be sustainable, both in terms of materials and energy use.

'It is good to see many developers are already working to a sustainable level. It has been a great privilege to have managed such an exciting project and I would like to thank everybody who was involved in this wonderful project.'

Mark Wray, sustainable construction manager at the South West RDA, added: 'We would like to congratulate everyone involved in the development of Okehampton Business Centre — it is great news to hear that it has been recognised by Region SW in this way.

'Alongside its other awards, this is a real endorsement of how Okehampton is a leading example of a high quality, sustainable development, helping to build a low-carbon economy in the region — the RDA is proud of its investment in Okehampton.

'The centre is helping to unlock the business potential of the area and is creating much needed work space and new jobs.'