A DILAPIDATED former 17th century inn in York which was transformed into shops, a restaurant and offices is in line for a top conservation award.

Work carried out at 62 to 68 Low Petergate, which involved architectural digs and careful conversion using historically-accurate building techniques, is on a shortlist of Yorkshire's finest construction projects.

They were announced today by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

It was made as part of the judging process for the RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards, which celebrate outstanding initiatives to develop, regenerate or conserve the environment.

The Low Petergate project, developed and built by George Houlton & Sons (Holdings) Limited is competing in the conservation category with Betty's Caf Tea Rooms in Northallerton, the newly-relocated Sheffield Register Office and Wakefield's New Theatre Bretton College.

Apart from the 17th century inn, on the Low Petergate site there was also an 18th century town house extended in the 19th century.

The design, by architect practice, the Malcolm Payne Group, involved six shops, 19 apartments and a restaurant.

Four of the shops are occupied by Jaeger, Noa Noa, The Rugby Shop and Penny's Deli and the remaining two are under offer.

Of the 19 apartments, ten have been sold and four of them are now occupied. A further two are under offer.

Also competing for top honours is a development of two "eco-homes" in Horsman Avenue, York, in a £350,000 joint venture by Yorkshire Housing Group and Redworth Construction.

The large glazed faade buildings, consisting of a four bedroom and two bedroom house, are designed to cut down on energy consumption and bills as well as helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pollution.

It has been shortlisted in the design and innovation category with Leeds College of Music. Eco Homes in Ripon and Springboard Business Centre, Stokesley.

Sycamore House in Malton is in the top listing for residential design - one of four speculative new-build houses which have received widespread acclaim even though the budget was modest.

Three of the four finalists competing in the tourism category are from North Yorkshire. They are: the transformation of derelict Grade 2 listed buildings next door to Ripley Castle into a luxurious conference and banqueting facility; redevelopment of the Lockton Youth Hostel north of Pickering; and a new entrance in The Walled Garden Visitor Centre at Scramston Hall, near Malton.

The awards ceremony will be at Leeds town hall on September 30.

Updated: 10:49 Tuesday, August 23, 2005