HAMPSHIRE'S new cafe-on-stilts is one of two visitor attractions in the county which have been shortlisted for prestigious awards.

The Lookout - a cafe and visitor centre at Lepe Country Park - has been built on top of concrete columns to protect it from rising sea levels and tidal storm surges.

The glass-fronted complex overlooking the Solent is in the running for one of the annual awards presented by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Another contender is the 104-year-old Whitchurch Silk Mill.

Hampshire County Council says both buildings have benefitted from top quality design and improvement projects carried out by the authority's in-house property services team.

Council leader Roy Perry said: “These are two enormously popular public attractions that stand out for their excellent design.

"The Lookout is a striking new restaurant, designed to cope with the challenges of coastal weather, while Whitchurch Silk Mill is a nationally-important building that has been sensitively conserved and enhanced for visitors."

Lepe's latest attraction has been shortlisted in the leisure and tourism category of the awards.

The seafront restaurant was completed last summer as part of the country park's £2.9m scheme, which also included new paths and toilets and improved play equipment.

Cllr Perry said: “Investing in new modern facilities for Lepe is a big step towards making it financially self-sustaining for future generations to enjoy.

"The county council and its funding partners - the Enterprise M3 LEP, New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority - have been delighted with the positive response from visitors to the work undertaken by our design team."

Whitchurch Silk Mill has been shortlisted in the conservation category.

Run by the Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust, the Georgian building weaves silk using 19th century machinery.

Three years ago the county council launched a £1.36m project to repair the buildings, improve the visitor experience and ensure the future of silk weaving in Whitchurch.

The project was partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with the rest of the cash coming from trusts, charities, foundations and private donations.

The layout of the building has been altered to improve visitor flow, with glazed partitions providing views of the looms.

Mill director Sue Tapliss said: "The Preserving the Fabric project has secured the future for silk weaving at the mill by creating an inspiring and beautiful place to visit and learn about its significant past.

"We can now look forward to delighting visitors for another 200 years.”

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