A gothic mansion which once housed the BBC research centre is being turned into luxury apartments.

The developers behind the transformation received a highly commended in the developer of the year award at Kingswood Warren Park on Monday.

Surrey-based Octagon was praised for its work to convert the mansion into eight apartments and build 14 family homes in the 19-acre grounds by this summer.

The Building Excellence Awards are run by an organisation representing council's building control departments.

The great country estate was built in 1837 and went through incarnations including a girls' finishing school, a hotel and wartime offices for evacuated staff before being bought by the BBC in 1948.

During the BBC's tenure entry to Kingswood Warren was limited to corporation personnel and scientific luminaries whose technological advances included satellite communication, colour TV and digital radio.

In 2008 the site was purchased by Octagon. Apartments are on the market from £1.25million and family homes are available from £2.25m.