A scheme launched to restore a 100-year-old Co Down mountain wall to its original condition has been named Northern Ireland’s building project of the year.
The £1.6m Mourne Wall Restoration Project, which consisted of more than 600 repairs along 22 miles, took the accolade at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Awards in Belfast last night.
It beat a record 35 other entries, securing the building conservation category before being named overall winner.
The restoration involved using helicopters to transport some of the materials, as well as traditional methods of rolling the stones into place.
Descendants of the original wall builders were also involved and expertly crafted local materials were used.
The Mourne Wall was hand-built by the Belfast Water Commissioners between 1904 and 1922 to mark and protect the 9,000-acre water catchment area which feeds the Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs.
It has been a listed structure since 1996 and is owned by Northern Ireland Water.
Michael Hannaway, chairman of the judging panel, said judges were impressed “with the blending of traditional skills and craftsmanship with modern surveying techniques to return the wall to its original condition”.
He added: “The team behind it should be very proud as it was no easy task, with such a challenging landscape to work within and many factors to consider in ensuring minimised environmental impact.”
Mr Hannaway said the wall was in a special conservation area and in the heart of an area of outstanding beauty, as well as being an important landmark to the 100,000 walkers who visit the area annually.
The project was carried out by the RPS Group and Geda Construction.
Winners in the other categories were: commercial – River House, Belfast; community benefit – Raidio Failte / Lionra Uladh, Belfast; design through innovation – Daera, Ballykelly; infrastructure – The Blossom Children and Young People’s Centre, Craigavon Area Hospital; regeneration – Let’s Go Hydro, Carryduff; residential – Northland Road residential development, Derry; tourism and leisure – Grand Central Hotel, Belfast.
Highly commended certificates were also presented to Omagh Integrated Primary and Nursery School (community benefit), and Milewater Road Service Centre, Belfast (infrastructure).
The projects will compete against other regional winners at the final on Friday, October 4, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, for the chance to be crowned overall UK winner in their respective categories.