THE state of the art Penarth learning community has been named as the project of the year at the constructing excellence in Wales awards 2015.

The awards were held at Newport's Celtic manor resort on Friday, June 12 to celebrate Welsh construction.

The £48 million project was also successful in the integration and collaborative working category.

Work started on PLC in 2012 and it was opened in October 2014 consisting of Ysgol y Deri special school as well as St Cyres comprehensive.

Chris Britten, head of Ysgol y Deri said: "

The project was built as part of the 21st Century schools investment programme with funding split between the Vale council and the Welsh government.

Cllr Chris Elmore, Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “Since we began work on this project in 2012 it has gone from strength to strength.

From initially gaining planning permission, to being named Project of the Year, it has been a massive success, and I am very proud to have seen it through from beginning to end.

It will provide a first-class, inclusive facility for children for generations to come, and will stand as a testament to the hard work of all those in the Council who made it happen.”

The Penarth learning community has now been shortlisted for ten award schemes this year and won four of these.

On the back of this success the project will now be entered into the national Constructing Excellence awards on the 23rd October 2015.