The Old Market Square in Nottingham has won the first ever RIBA CABE Public Space Award.

The stunning development, designed by Gustafson Porter, is one of the oldest and largest public squares in the UK and boasts a stunning water feature and seating terraces which improves accessibility for all and provides a flexible space for public amenity and civic and cultural events.

The RIBA CABE Public Space Award celebrates publicly accessible external space which is at the fore front of the new square. The old design of the square adopted a strict geometric orientation towards the Council House and the new layout is less structured, providing a more fluid, inviting public space.  

The announcement was made at a special awards ceremony for the RIBA Stirling Prize in association with The Architects' Journal at the BT Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool. The winner was announced by Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the winning practice was presented with a cheque for £5,000 by CABE’s Chief Executive Richard Simmons.

Councillor Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration, said: "We are really proud of the new look Old Market Square and are delighted the development has been recognised again by RIBA. The development of the Square has played a pinnacle role in Nottingham's regeneration and has given us the ability to stage large-scale events for all the City to enjoy."

Speaking about the square, Sarah Gaventa, Director of CABE Space (sponsors of the prize) and one of the judging panel, said: "With a history going back 800 years this large space retains its own distinctiveness and sense of place through its sympathetic response to existing site conditions. The community has clearly given life to the square with the diverse activities and human interaction acting as a source of visual excitement.  It is a worthy first winner of this important new award."

 The Old Market Square has previously won three top Civic Trust Awards; Outstanding Contribution to the Public Realm; Hard Landscaping and a Special Regeneration Award and the 2008 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award.

The other short listed buildings for the award were the Royal Festival Hall, London by Allies and Morrison, Landscape Architects Goss Max, Masterplanners Rick Mather Architects and the Royal Observatory, London also by Allies and Morrison.