AN APARTMENT block which is being built on empty land in Lye has been shortlisted for a national design award.

Work has already begun on the 20 apartments on the brownfield site on Stourbridge Road.

Now developer Ruskin Properties has received national recognition for its striking design for the site, which is in between the railway bridge and Rainbow Palace restaurant, opposite Stambermill Close.

The scheme, called Zest, has been shortlisted for the Award for Design Excellence as part of the Planning Awards 2021.

A spokesman for the Halesowen-based developer said: "Ruskin Properties builds good quality homes for private rent within the Black Country.

"The new homes are built using direct labour rather than using sub-contractors.

"This supports the employment of local people, whilst also providing quality new homes for the local market.

"This approach demonstrates the companies’ commitment to the Black Country.

"The focus is on building new homes on previously developed land, which supports the regeneration and improvement of areas."

Nick Burton, Managing Director of Ruskin Properties Limited, said: “As a local housebuilder we take pride in building bespoke developments individually designed for each of our sites.

"Zest is a project which is designed to a high quality and will provide excellent homes for local people on what was an unused vacant piece of land.

"To be shortlisted for a design award is a huge achievement, to win the award would be a tremendous accolade.

"We would be incredibly proud and honoured.”

Ruskin rents out all the properties it builds, maintaining ownership of them.