Region’s top schemes rewarded at Pro-Yorkshire awards

AN EDWARDIAN theatre refurbishment, a school design and a retirement development have all been recognised as top building projects at the 2009 RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards.

Harrogate’s Royal Hall won the highly-acclaimed project of the year accolade after the theatre complex underwent a £10.7m refurbishment.

A total of seven projects from across the region were given top prizes at the awards, which were held at the Saviles Hall, Royal Armouries in Leeds.

The awards recognise and celebrate inspirational initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.

Sharrow Vale School in Sheffield picked up the award for design and innovation: (l-r) Evelyn Abram, Jo Tingle, Lynne Hey and Cath Basilio with RICS Yorkshire chairman Colin Harrop.

There were eight categories – building conservation, regeneration, sustainability, community benefit, design and innovation, residential, commercial, and tourism and leisure – leading to the project of the year award.

The Royal Hall also won in the building conservation category.

BBC Look North news reader Harry Gration hosted the evening which also saw retirement development pad55, in Pickering, pick up two awards in the sustainability and residential categories, and the Bridlington Spa Theatre scoop the regeneration award.

Several highly commended awards were also given out, including one to a church project in Baildon, West Yorkshire.

Several of the winners have now been automatically entered into the national RICS awards later this year, where they will compete against building projects from across the UK.

Colin Harrop, RICS Yorkshire and Humber chairman, said: “Our independent judges had an extremely tough task choosing the winners as the awards attracted an initial entry of 76 projects this year. This is more than any other region in England, and the vast majority of entrants were of an exceptionally high standard.

“The winners really do put Yorkshire and Humberside on the map as a region that offers world-class, innovative buildings – they are truly inspirational projects that demonstrate the skills and creativity of our property professionals and their commitment to sustaining and improving the property landscape.”

Jennifer Welch, operations director of RICS North, added: “We had a great turnout on the night, which we really appreciate, as these awards symbolise excellence in the Yorkshire and Humberside property and construction sector and provide an invaluable opportunity for the region to celebrate and showcase its exceptional projects.” 

Category winners at the RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards were:

Building conservation
Royal Hall, HarrogateWinner: Royal Hall, Harrogate
Highly commended: St James Church, Baildon 

Commercial
Winner: Stanhope Buildings, Horsforth

Community Benefit
Winner: Castleford River Crossing and Fish Pass, Castleford
Highly commended: The Art house, Wakefield
Highly commended: The Green Lane Neighbourhood Centre, Whitby

Design and innovation
Winner: Sharrow School, Sheffield 
Highly commended: Brompton Lakes, Richmond

Bridlington Spa, BridlingtonRegeneration
Winner: Bridlington Spa, Bridlington

Residential
Winner: pad55, Pickering

Sustainability
Winner: pad55, Pickering

Tourism and leisure
Winner: Leeds City Museum

Project of the year
Royal Hall, Harrogate

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