The Centre for the Children's Book is based in a former Victorian mill

Seven Stories - The Centre for the Children's Book in Newcastle's Ouseburn Valley - has been given the Lord Mayor's Special Regeneration Award.

The �6.5m centre was praised for its outstanding and imaginative use of a former industrial building.

Other winners in the 2005 Lord Mayor's Design Awards include the University of Newcastle and a church in Byker.

When it came to the Centre for Children's Books, judges praised the attention to quality and detail in the scheme, ranging from the "pages of an opening book" entrance, through features including child height windows, to the boat moored on the Ouseburn itself at the back of the building.

'Fantastic developments'

The University of Newcastle enjoyed a double success, gaining the New Building Award and the Sustainability Award.

St Silas Church in Byker took the Refurbishment/Conservation Award.

Councillor David Slesenger, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, said: "Like any other modern city, Newcastle is constantly changing and I am proud that the awards recognise the importance of these developments being carried out in a sensitive and attractive way.

"The Centre for the Children's Book is a truly captivating building but, as the list of winners makes clear, it is just one of many fantastic developments that have appeared in the city over the last year.

"All the winners should be congratulated for succeeding in making Newcastle a more attractive city for us all."