Insider Media Limited

Five building projects in the West Midlands have been put forward for international awards. It comes after they won top accolades in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) West Midlands awards earlier this year.

Now, the projects will battle against tough competition in the RICS International Awards 2010 Grand Final, set to take place in London on 15 October.

The West Midlands based projects competing are:

• The West Midlands Regional Food Academy in Newport - an original 19th century former mill and farm buildings located within the Harper Adams University College campus in Shropshire. (winner of the West Midlands Regeneration award and Project of the Year)

 • Barford Village Shop in Warwickshire – a new shop was built as an extension to the existing village hall. Acting as a permanent home to the post office, the shop also offers banking facilities and an internet café, as well as incorporating an outside play area. (winner of the West Midlands Community Benefit award)

• The Malthouse at Harvington Hall in Worcestershire – set in the grounds of the Grade I-listed manor house, the Malthouse is individually Grade-II listed and was previously an under-utilised storage building that underwent sound conservation techniques to upgrade the building for use by both visitors and school groups as an interpretation centre. (winner of the West Midlands Conservation award)

• The Cross Street South housing development in Wolverhampton – the old car park site’s development into 30 new homes for affordable rent by Bromford Group was recognised for incorporating practical options to reduce environmental impacts, enhancing standards of living and minimising construction and maintenance costs. (winner of the West Midlands Sustainability award)

• The Smart Timber Frame’s timber frame building system - this contemporary building concept allows the super structure of an entire house, including the first floor and roof, to be fully constructed within just six hours. The system provides developers with significant cost savings as only limited scaffolding and fall arrest costs need be incurred. (Highly commended in the West Midlands Sustainability category)

Each of the five projects won substantial praise from the regional judges at the West Midlands awards finals, beating off significant competition from 62 other entries.

Martin Perks, RICS West Midlands regional chairman, said: "Each of the West Midlands projects that were selected by the regional judges were extremely impressive and were clear winners at the West Midlands awards earlier this year. We now wish them all the very best of luck as they compete in the international finals later this month."