Hermitage Housing has appointed Ridge to take the project from planning, appoint a contractor and manage works on site.

The building, that is Grade II* listed, will be transformed and extended into a mixed-use development consisting of a community facility, 35 residential units and three offices.

Planning consent was granted at the end of 2007 and work is expected to begin in January 2009.

Designs for the scheme, by architects Re-Format, recently won the top award at the 2008 National Housing Design Awards.