A controversial project in York once dismissed as "a pseudo barn conversion" by York Civic Trust has scooped ultimate honours in major chartered surveyors' awards.

The project, to transform the former York College For Girls in Low Petergate into a restaurant, five shops and 19 apartments, earned the top conservation award for the development team involved.

The transformation of the cluster of mostly Georgian, but some medieval, three-storey buildings - only yards away from York Minster - went on to win the "outstanding achievement" accolade from Phil Spencer, presenter of the Channel 4 television property series, Location, Location, Location.

Among those revelling in the glory at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' Pro Yorkshire awards at Leeds Town Hall were WR Dunn, of Front Street, Acomb; owner-developer George Houlton & Sons (Holdings) Ltd of Hull; and London architects Malcolm Payne Design Group - who were all part of the college's conversion team.

Malcolm Payne said: "All schemes have opposition from some parts. This scheme got planning consent, listed building consent and it has come to a successful outcome, getting the praise it deserved for all the people involved."

WR Dunn went on to further glory by being surveyors and architects for the team which won the tourism award for a four-year £3 million project to transform Grade II Listed Buildings immediately next to Ripley Castle, near Harrogate, into a luxurious conference and banqueting facility with three modern kitchens. Richard Dunn, managing director of WR Dunn, described the accolades as "a real show of confidence in the practice".

He said: "I am proud of our involvement with both projects. The awards reflect an excellent and sustained team effort."

Richard Maddison, the WR Dunn associate who, along with Russell Pickering, worked on the Low Petergate project, said: "The philosophy for both projects was based on sound conservation values, but was supplemented with architectural flair to bring out the best use for buildings that had previously fallen into a state of perilous repair."

Updated: 10:33 Tuesday, October 04, 2005