The former coalfield site won top prize

Sherwood Energy Village in north Nottinghamshire won the Enterprising Britain competition ahead of 12 other regional finalists.

The 91-acre development at a former colliery has a mix of environmentally sustainable businesses.

The project was built to help provide jobs for the area, which was hit hard by the closure of the mine in 1994.

Stan Crawford, managing editor of the energy village, said the site will end up employing more people than the mine ever did.

"There'll be 1,500 jobs here in 2007 compared to 1,000 in the colliery's heyday," he said.

Other finalists in the competition included the city of Leeds and Hatton Garden in London.