A PROPERTY developer has been recognised in one of the country’s top design awards.

Brockholes-based Conroy Brook was runner-up in the Independent Living category of the Pinders National Healthcare Design Awards for its Rowan Court development at Holmfirth.

Rowan Court is a £4m 15-bed close care unit built for the Mirfield-based Hollybank Trust, which provides education and care for children and adults with complex physical disabilities.

It is the second time that Conroy Brook has been successful in these awards. In 2005, the company won the award for Best New Development in the UK (Elderly Healthcare) for its White Rose Nursing Home in Holmfirth, operated by Meridian Healthcare Ltd.

The awards were set up in 1999 to promote and recognise the best UK developments in all types of care-related property.

Judges this year reported an "astonishing" number of high quality entries.

Rowan Court attracted praise for meeting Hollybank’s requirements for a modern, purpose-built close care facility, which meets and exceeds all current legislation regarding the young people’s needs.

John Hall, chairman of trustees for Hollybank, said: "We are delighted that our new building was chosen as a finalist in these awards.

"As a brand new purpose-built facility it enables us to provide a wonderful, caring environment for the young people who live there."

Richard Conroy, chief executive of Conroy Brook, said: "Rowan Court is a well designed, efficient, modern close-care home for a very deserving cause and so we are very pleased that the quality that we put in all our developments has been recognised by the judges."

Conroy Brook focuses on developing high specification properties across Yorkshire – a policy which had resulted in the company winning awards including being named Master Builder of the Year for Yorkshire and Trent in 2008 as well as being a finalist in the 2009 Examiner Business Awards.