AN office development in the Ribble Valley has scooped an industry ‘Oscar’.

The Duchy of Lancaster’s latest restoration project, Root Hill Estate Yard in Dunsop Bridge, won the RICS North West Award for Commercial Property.

It beat stiff competition including Manchester City Centre’s Peninsula Building and 3 Hardman Square schemes, together with Liverpool’s IC2 and the refurbished Tithebarn House.

The judges were impressed by the project’s ‘no-compromise approach to quality and the sympathetic design and construction of a building which reflected historic pedigree’.

The scheme incorporates original design features with innovative heating systems, wood-burning stoves and sheep-wool insulation to maximise energy efficiency.

The redevelopment of the yard has transformed a series of redundant and historic farm buildings into a prestigious new business address.