McKnight has been named as the North’s top house builder for the second time.
The Carlisle firm was crowned regional champion in the Federation of Master Builders’ Master Builder Awards in Leeds.
McKnight won the ‘House Builder’ and ‘Medium Renovation Project’ categories when the biennial awards were last held in 2021.
This time it won ‘House Builder’ for Peel Castle, a replica peel tower on the edge of Brampton built using local sandstone and lime mortar pointing.
The new structure, and its Castlesteads wing, had to complement the adjoining Garth House, a Grade-II listed building.
Peel Castle and Castlesteads are let as luxury holiday accommodation.
Wayne McKnight, managing director at McKnight, said: “Garth House was completely different from anything we’ve done before – it’s not every day that you get to build a castle.
“This award is huge for us, a great achievement, especially as it’s the second time we’ve won the House Builder category.
“Winning is great publicity for the business and it’s important to the lads who worked on the project.
“They are getting recognition for craftsmanship and a good job done.”
The Master Builder Awards celebrate high-quality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service and building excellence.
They also recognise the significant contribution that small and medium-sized construction companies make to the UK construction industry.
McKnight had to see off competition from building contractors across the north of England to clinch the title.
As a regional winner, the firm goes forward to the national final, hosted by TV presenter Nick Knowles, at Grosvenor House in London in September.
Wayne added: “We’re hoping that we can win. We’ve been down to London before but never won. Maybe this time.”
McKnight is a family business that has operated for more than 55 years, working for clients all over the country.
Other recent projects locally include Old School Court, a high-specification housing development on the site of the former Caldewgate School in Carlisle, and William’s Pasture, an exclusive housing development at Aglionby. They also recently sold all plots at their Durdar home development, The Points.
