A COUNCIL'S guide to more environmentally sensitive building development has won a hat-trick of awards.

Durham County Council's Building-in Sustainability, gives advice and guidance on how to make developments big or small more environmentally-friendly and sustainable. It was produced in conjunction with developers, others agencies and councils.

The council has been awarded a Green Apple National Gold award, an industrial services award for sustainability from the Leeds and Yorkshire Times and a Royal Town Planning Institute commendation.

"It's always something special to receive a prestigious award for good work, but when three come along all at once it takes your breath away," said Councillor Bob Pendlebury, the authority's cabinet member for sustainability.

"Building-in Sustainability is a practical guide aimed at anyone planning a building project, whether that's a single house or an entire industrial estate. It gives guidance on how developments can be more energy efficient, better planned and designed and more integrated with the local community.

"The benefits of doing that are plain to see. Building sustainably means a smoother ride through the approvals process, fewer battles with authorities and less likelihood of neighbour objections.

"The end result should be developments that use fewer of the Earth's finite resources and put out less pollution into the air and water that we all share."

The Royal Town Planning Institute judges said the guide "would be of interest to many planners struggling with how to put sustainability into practice."