THE conversion of a medieval church in York into the new Early Music Centre has put the building in line for another accolade.

The centre, off Walmgate, has been short-listed among only 23 sites in the country for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) Excellence in Property awards.

It was opened last April after £2 million was spent on converting it from St Margaret's Church.

The 23 short-listed sites were chosen from around 300 and the Early Music Centre was nominated for its conservation work. It was the only site in Yorkshire to make it on to the short-list. Other sites were chosen for enhancement of the environment or regeneration.

News of the success only two months after the building was one of just 53 in the EU to win an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Delma Tomlin, centre director, said she was delighted. "It's very rewarding. It's really exciting and great for the team and great for a lot of York work people who were involved in the conversion.

"Before we started, St Margaret's was on the English Heritage register of buildings at risk and this corner of Walmgate was in need of a bit of TLC."

The RICS winners should be announced by the end of this year.

Updated: 11:00 Friday, August 31, 2001