Cockington Court, Torquay New era for Cockington Court now restoration is complete Cockington Court, a manor house, craft centre situated within the grounds of a country park in Cockington Village, Torquay, has undergone a major transformation following a £2.8 million scheme to regenerate the historic attraction and transform it into an incubation hub for creative businesses. The scheme, designed by Kay Elliott, comprises a mixture of refurbishment and new build. The existing Grade II* Listed manor house has been improved through extensive structural repair, modernisation and conversion into modern offices. Three buildings totalling 500 sq m, built on a car park to the rear of the court, house 15 new units including art spaces, galleries, craft studios and community facilities. All units are arranged around a central public space which has been created for performances, markets and exhibitions. Environmental sustainability and life cycle performance was a key consideration. The new buildings have achieved a BREEAM Excellent with Cockington Court achieving a Very Good rating. Structurally insulated panel systems (SIPs) were used to construct the building, made of sustainable materials and delivering very high insulation levels, a biomass boiler is used for heating and has the capacity to connect Cockington Court to future developments, and solar panels provide hot water to the new buildings. Accessibility was also important. Throughout Cockington Court, access for people with disabilities has been improved, wayfinding has been improved by opening up vistas and permanent art installations have been placed at key locations. Extensive public consultation throughout the design process was followed by community involvement during construction. Cockington Court gave young people the opportunity for apprenticeships and others from surrounding areas were employed to complete their community service.