Development projects from across the Bradford district cleaned up at the West Yorkshire Local Authority Building Awards, with eight awards out of 15 categories going to the district.
The awards for the district included the restoration of the Bradford Council-run Cliffe Castle Museum and Gardens picking up Best Public Service Building. Bradford Council, with the help of a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, delivered a project to restore many of the original park features and to recreate some of the lost glasshouse and vineries as well as a new aviary and small animal house at Cliffe Castle.
Another major award was for conversion of The Manor Buildings on Manor Row in Bradford city centre, which won the category for Best Change of Use of an Existing Building or Conversion (large development).
Some other winners from the Bradford district were:
- Best Public Service Building went to Cliffe Castle in Keighley
- The Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development was won by Fern House, Bingley — a dementia care unit with 30 individual rooms.
- Bradford Architect Richard Dawson was awarded The LABC Construction Professional of the Year.
The LABC Building Excellence awards are given for building projects and individuals, awarding technical know-how and team-working. Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Encouraging a quality residential offer is a key part of our strategy for growing the city centre so it was particularly fantastic to see Manor Buildings near Forster Square station recognised as the best large conversion in the entire region.
“Our Building Control team at the Council work really hard to with developers helping them to design and deliver cost effective, sustainable, safe and high quality developments that comply with building regulations. I am delighted that they have been recognised in this way by Local Authority Building Control.”
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, added: “The work that has gone in to the restoration of Cliffe Castle in Keighley is outstanding and it is no surprise that it brought home the award for Best Public Service Building and our Building Control work on the project recognised. Hundreds of families enjoy Cliffe Castle each week and we have some great events lined up this year.”
Pictured above is Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw with representatives of the Cliffe Castle team.
