THE refurbishment of a town hall, completion of an eco village and Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition are among dozens of North-East projects up for buildings regional.

More than 60 schemes ranging from small-scale projects to multi-million pound developments have been shortlisted across eight categories for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North East Renaissance Awards.

David Furniss, chairman of the judging panel, said: “The awards showcase the very best in property and construction across the region.

“From heritage restoration to the latest in cutting-edge architecture, and from community project to commercial space, the North East’s talented property professionals are raising the bar on what can be achieved.”

The Witham Development, a £3.2m restoration of the hall in the centre of Barnard Castle, County Durham, has been shortlisted in the Building Conservation and Community Benefit categories.

The Building Conservation award is also being contested by Bow Lane and Duncow Lanes in Durham City, numbers 48 to 50 North Bailey in Durham belonging to Durham University and 62 Dovecot Street in Stockton, the £1m conversion of a former Quaker meeting house into a centre for digital businesses also shortlisted in the commercial category.

Castle Court, a 41-home £3.6m housing development which included the conversion of a former manor house in Annfield Plain near Durham is also up for conservation award as well as in the residential category.

The development of 16 affordable homes on a former brown field site on Haughton Road in Darlington is also shortlisted in the residential award along with Monmouth grove in Hartlepool, Elba Park in Houghton-le-Spring and Eston Eco Village.

The £3.5m eco village has 26 houses featuring environmentally friendly systems which could save up to a £1,000 a year from a resident’s energy bill.

The village has also been shortlisted in the design through innovation category along with Tuned in @ My Place in Redcar and Durham University Business School.

The Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition, which attracted more than 100,000 visitors during a three-month stay in Durham City last year, has been shortlisted for the tourism and leisure award.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Newcastle Civic Centre on Friday, April 25.

RICS NORTH EAST RENAISSANCE AWARDS SHORTLISTS BUILDING

CONSERVATION: 62 Dovecot Street, Stockton Bow Lane and Duncow Lanes, Durham Grand Hotel refurbishment, Newcastle Witham redevelopment, Barnard Castle Conservation of medieval tower, monastic cell and disused cottage to create accommodation for RSPB, Northumberland 48 to 50 North Bailey Durham University, Durham Heworth Hall redevelopment, Gateshead Castle Court, Annfield Plain

COMMERCIAL: The Palace Hub, Redcar MTREC offices, Newcastle Kenny Atkinson House of Tides, Newcastle The Gateway, Middlesbrough Seaham North Dock, Seaham 62 Dovecot Street, Stockton Trinity Square, Gateshead Grand Hotel refurbishment, Newcastle

COMMUNITY BENEFIT: Maggie’s, Newcastle The Gateway, Middlesbrough Northumbria Nursery, Newcastle Witham redevelopment, Barnard Castle Lavender Centre, Pelton Tuned in! @ My Place, Redcar Chapel House Medical Centre, Newcastle Avondale House, Newcastle.

DESIGN THROUGH INNOVATION: Durham University Business School, Durham INTO at Newcastle University, Newcastle National Renewable Energy Centre, Blyth Treetops, Northumberland Tuned in! @ My Place, Redcar Northumbria Nursery, Newcastle Maggie’s, Newcastle Eston Eco Village, Middlesbrough

REGENERATION: The Palace Hub, Redcar Scotswood Regeneration Project, Newcastle Harton Quays Park, South Shields Tuned in! @ My Place, Redcar Avondale House, Newcastle Trinity Square, Gateshead The Gateway, Middlesbrough Seaham North Dock, Seaham.

RESIDENTIAL: Elba Park, Houghton-le-Spring INTO at Newcastle University, Newcastle Grand Hotel refurbishment, Newcastle Eston Eco Village, Middlesbrough Treetops, Northumberland Castle Court, Annfield Plain Haughton Road, Darlington Monmouth Grove, Hartlepool

TOURISM & LEISURE: Kenny Atkinson House of Tides, Newcastle Conservation of medieval tower, monastic cell and disused cottage to create accommodation for RSPB, Northumberland Sunderland seafront, Sunderland Littlehaven promenade and seawall, South Shields Tuned in! @ My Place, Redcar Harton Quays Park, South Shields Seaham North Dock, Seaham Lindisfarne Gospels Exhibition, Durham

INFRASTRUCTURE: Littlehaven promenade and seawall, South Shields Bow Lane and Duncow Lanes, Durham City Metro modernisation, Tyne and Wear Scotswood site preparation, Newcastle Benfieldside road flooding, Newcastle Harton Quays park, South Shields Sunderland seafront, Sunderland Delhi Restoration, Newcastle