A CUMBRIAN building company has scooped a top industry award for transforming a remote farmhouse that had fallen into disrepair into a contemporary home.

J C Building Services, based near Millom, picked up the Large Renovation Project award at the Federation of Master Builders’ 2021 North West Master Builder Awards, which were hosted online on June 2.

The awards recognise excellence in the region’s small and medium-sized construction companies and are run by the FMB, the largest trade association in the UK construction sector, which is this year celebrating its 80th anniversary.

J C Building Services beat off competition from across the Northwest to win the prize for their work overhauling an old farmhouse at Lowick.

Nearly all the building materials used for the project were either reused from the original building or sourced locally.

This included wooden beams and floorboards which were cleaned and re-laid, a utility room worktop fashioned from the sconce from the old larder and roof slates as splashback tiles.

One of the biggest challenges of the project was accessing the property, with the team having to replace an ageing bridge across a stream to allow access for heavier vehicles.

And the roads to the farmhouse were so narrow all materials had to be dropped a mile away and brought in on tractor and trailer.

Caroline Meehan, director of FMB North, said: “Northwest Master Builders have delivered some outstanding projects for this year’s awards.”

“J C Building Services’ commitment to a brilliant build, making clever use of local resources, and displaying great craftsmanship, is a deserving winner.”