A new park, whose development team includes Cheltenham-based Formal Investments, has scooped a top award.

Rectory Farm Proposal in Heston, London from Virtual Resolution Dev on Vimeo.

Rectory Farm in Hounslow, West London, will sit above underground warehouse space to be created by the discreet extraction of minerals.

The development, approved by London Borough of Hounslow last summer, has won the Mayor's Award for Innovation In Planning at the London Planning Awards 2018.

The project's team includes the developer Formal Investments, the planning consultancy DP9, architect Carmody Groarke, engineers ARUP, landscape designers VOGT and property and construction consultancy Gleeds.

Rectory Farm's large new public park will provide much needed recreational space linking local communities and will include full size grass and all-weather football pitches, hockey and cricket pitches, plus a variety of other facilities alongside fields and tree-lined paths for walking, running and cycling.

Historically the 110 acres of green belt land was agricultural but has not been farmed since 1996 due to years of antisocial behaviour, fly tipping, trespass, vandalism and concerns over food safety. Currently inaccessible to the public, the site will be transformed into an open and freely accessible park.

The mineral extraction will take place discreetly beneath the park's surface through an innovative 'top-down' construction method, with the process contained below ground in contrast to open cast mining.

Formal Investments director Nicholas King said: "The team behind Rectory Farm is incredibly proud of winning this award. It celebrates the partnership approach that enabled our team to work with Hounslow's planners, councillors and, most importantly local residents, to secure the support and backing of the Council and the community for such a revolutionary concept."

Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: "I'm delighted that Hounslow's planning team has been recognised for all their hard work on this project and their collaboration with the developers and other partners.

"The scheme itself is hugely innovative and, as a result of working closely together, our residents will benefit from minimised disruption during the building phase, as well as a great new green space to enjoy when it is completed."

Last August, Formal Investments started construction on the £12 million office development, Honeybourne Place, the first new build office space in Cheltenham for many years.

It will bring up to 500 jobs to the town. Its 64,000 square feet of Grade A office space has been pre-let to a single occupier.

The striking building is designed by Gloucester-based architects Roberts Limbrick and the construction project is being managed by Gleeds with the lead contractor, Gloucester-based Barnwood Construction.