The search to find the winners of this year's Dynamic Place Awards, the only awards in Scotland that recognise the country's leading design, innovation and regeneration projects, has taken a leap forward with the announcement of this year's shortlist of entries.

The awards judges have reduced the list of nearly 100 entries down to 26 projects. Judges are currently visiting each of the remaining contenders to identify the winners in the three award categories; Built Environment, Community Development and Connections.

The relocation and restoration of The Groatie Hoose in Orkney has been shortlisted for the Built Environment award.

Originally built in 1730 in what was one of Orkney's finest gardens, the small summerhouse had come to find itself located in the midst of industrial buildings and in a poor state of repair.

It has now been restored and relocated to Tankerness House Gardens where it can once again be accessed by the public.

Chessa Llewellyn-White, development manager at Orkney Enterprise, said: "We are very pleased that the Groatie Hoose has made it to the shortlist in the Dynamic Place Awards.

"Kirkwall and St Ola Community Council had many supporters in their endeavours to relocate the Groatie Hoose to a more fitting environment. 

"Restoring it to its former glory proved quite a task as it had to be painstakingly taken down piece by piece and rebuilt exactly as it had been, no one being very sure of its original construction. Orkney Enterprise is delighted to have been able to play a role in the project."

The awards are organised by Scottish Enterprise and supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Communities Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.

This year's winners will be announced at a prestigious ceremony to be held on 24th November at the Adventure Centre, Ratho, home of the National Rock Climbing Centre and the world's largest indoor climbing arena.

More information about the 2005 awards are available by logging on to the Scottish Enterprise website at: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/dynamicplaceawards/