BUILDING firm H&M Construction have been granted a Highly Commended Award at the LABC Regional Awards.

Business partners Peter Henderson and Ross Mitchell were nominated for the extension they built at Chantmarle, in Mickleton, Teesdale, which was designed by architect Phillip Newbold.

Mr Newbold who nominated the team for the award said: “This was a particularly challenging project in extending and altering a 200-year-old cottage in a Conservation Area to accommodate a three-storey lift for a client with MS, while raising the EPC rating from Band F to Band C. The result is a fine example of team work to deliver an accessible and sustainable home for our clients”.

H&M Construction were up against 12 other building firms and at the ceremony on June 15, the judges said it was a very difficult decision to who would be the overall winner.

Mr Henderson said: “Just to be nominated was great to finally get recognition for the work that we carry out. But to actually achieve the award of highly commended is another thing altogether. Not only is it brilliant for both myself and my business partner Ross Mitchell, but also for all of our staff and subcontractors, as we managed to beat off competition from companies who are much larger than ourselves”.

LABC's CEO Paul Everall said: "The awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate some of the very best in construction in England and Wales, recognising the high level of quality and skill we can and do reach in the UK."