A RURAL community with a population of 400 is set to press ahead with plans to create a £1m community centre, pavilion and sporting facilities after announcing the winner of an international architectural contest.

Following a public vote and presentations from the four finalists in the Royal Institute of British Architects Competition, judges, including acclaimed designer Wayne Hemingway, said a modern, single-storey design would reinvigorate Sessay and Hutton Sessay, near Thirsk.

Judges said Sutherland Hussey Architects' single-storey linear design, which features expanses of glass, best met brief for a modern building that was light, bright and airy and sympathetic to the village's heritage.

The proposal will also include a multi-use games area for tennis and other sports, outdoor adventure play equipment, exercise equipment and allotments.

They said the winning design had the potential "to significantly raise the bar for this type of community project".

Mr Hemingway added: “Sutherland Hussey produced a thoughtful and forward-thinking design which should provide a truly uplifting pavilion for the Sessay community and the wider region."

A spokesman for the firm said: "It's inspiring to work with a community who are so eager and willing to engage in contemporary architecture."

The contest, which attracted scores of entries from around the world, followed the production of a Community Plan for the villages, which identified an aspiration to replace the early 1970s village hall, which had become costly to maintain.

Almost 20 groups use the village hall, including the Women’s Institute, Sessay CE Primary School, St Cuthbert’s Parochial Church Council, indoor and outdoor bowls clubs, Sessay Cricket Club, a drama group and the Sessay First Responders.

It was also found the cricket club, which won the National Village Knockout Tournament at Lords in 2010, had outgrown its pavilion and needed improved facilities.

The Government Homes and Communities Agency awarded the villages a £32,400 grant to stage one of the institute's competitions.

Parish council chairman John MacPherson said a planning application featuring the design would be submitted to Hambleton District Council in March and once it has been approved, a drive to raise funds for the scheme would be launched.

Councillor MacPherson said he had been thrilled by the standard of the designs put forward by the finalists and the contest had been "extremely close".

He said: "We are looking forward to working with Sutherland Hussey to make our dream of a new village hall in Sessay become a reality.”