A RESTORED stately home and gardens has won a top planning award.

Wynyard Gardens and Visitor Centre, near Stockton, won the top prize at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) North East’s Awards for Planning Excellence 2016.

The project, costing £5.3m, saw the redevelopment of the Grade II listed home and hotel and also includes a new visitor centre, farm shop, £1.6m walled rose garden, and one of the North-East’s biggest glasshouses.

Martyn Earle, chairman of RTPI North East, said: “The Wynyard Gardens and Visitor Centre shone through as the outstanding entry in this year’s awards.

“The entry demonstrated outstanding planning achievement with planners bringing together strong design, historic preservation and regeneration.”