The £40m Oxford Castle development has won its second top award in a week.

Last week, staff at the complex off New Road celebrated after delegates at a property developers' summit in the French resort of Cannes voted for the site to top a poll of the world's best conference hotels and tourism locations.

And on Wednesday, the development scooped another award at a Civic Trust awards ceremony at Blackpool's Winter Gardens.

Oxford Castle and Merton College's Finlay building were among 24 schemes across the UK to win the trust's praise for "making an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the environ- ment".

Following the Cannes award, Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "Oxford Castle has been a total success.

"It was always going to be difficult to create something spectacular and popular enough to add to what is already a world-renowned city.

"The castle is a magnificent addition to Oxford's economy and to the quality of life of people in the city. The county council owns the site and worked hard to develop it with our partners.

"This award should provide us with all the encouragement we need to regenerate yet more of Oxford's 'West End'. We have set ourselves high standards to follow."

Last May, the new complex, comprising the Malmaison Hotel, nine restaurants, an art gallery, the Oxford Unlocked interpretation centre and 40 apartments, was opened by the Queen on the site of the former Oxford Prison.

Several of the former prison buildings were converted into the Malmaison Hotel and there are also four public squares and an art gallery.

The council worked with developer the Trevor Osborne Property Group, the South East England Development Agency (Seeda), and the Oxford Preservation Trust to tranform the site.

Mr Osborne said: "Congratulations to all those who played a part in this remarkable project.

"I am grateful to our partners which include Oxfordshire County Council, Seeda, the Oxford Preservation Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage who worked together to achieve what is regarded in the property industry as the world's best hotel and leisure project for 2007.

"I am delighted that our mutual efforts have been recognised internationally.

"It's great news for the city of Oxford and for all who enjoy Oxford's oldest new quarter."