ONE of Huddersfield's new loft flats in line for a top regional award.

The Creative Lofts development in the former Friendly and Trades Club in Northumberland Street has been shortlisted for an award by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The prize is for schemes that contribute to the region's social well-being.

Other projects in the running include the Deighton and Brackenhall housing redevelopment and a Kirklees Council school playground improvement scheme.

RICS regional director Chris Johnstone said: "Our judges are facing a tougher task than ever this year. We have some excellent contenders and there will be some hard decisions to make."

The Creative Lofts project turned a disused building into 21 flats, providing combined workspace and living accommodation for workers in creative industries.

They were unveiled in February last year.

The Deighton and Brackenhall scheme involves demolishing and replacing 500 homes on the Brackenhall estate.

Kirklees is working with the private sector in the £61m bid to restore the area's fortunes.

New community facilities and environmental improvements are included.

Also shortlisted is Kirklees Council's schools playground development programme.

It aims to improve the health, safety and fitness of schoolchildren by improving playgrounds.

A landscape team works with individual schools to design playgrounds which children can enjoy and which meet the needs of the national curriculum.

Four schools have got the treatment so far - Marsden Infant and Nursery; Flockton First; Spring Grove Junior, Infant and Nursery School in Springwood, Huddersfield; and Moorend First, Cleckheaton.

The winners will be announced at a dinner at Leeds Town Hall on October 3.

A spokesman for sponsors Yorkshire Bank said: "We have already seen an extremely high standard of entries. It reflects how strong our region is on the development front."

Related stories