Mersey’s multi-million transport scheme is named ‘North West’s Project of the Year’
The Mersey Gateway Project has been named ‘North West Project of the Year’ by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
It was among more than 45 of the North West’s most impressive and community beneficial property schemes as part of the 2018 RICS Awards, North West .
Held at the Principal Hotel in Manchester, the annual RICS Awards, North West celebrate inspirational initiatives in the region’s land, property and construction sectors across eight category awards.
The £1.86bn Mersey Gateway Project – which incorporates a new six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey in Halton and saw significant upgrades to the area’s highways – scooped the Infrastructure category award before being named the overall ‘North West Project of the Year.’
The highly acclaimed ‘North West Project of the Year’ accolade is presented to the category winner that demonstrates overall outstanding best practice and an exemplary commitment to adding value to its local area.
However, the scheme is at the centre of a row over its tolling system, with many commuters claiming they have been incorrectly charged. The Scrap Mersey Tolls campaign group is now targeting the bridge operators.
RICS judges praised the team behind the Mersey Gateway Project – including Hugh O’Connor, Knight Architects, Mersey Gateway Crossings Board and Scarisbrick Estates Ltd – for creating a stand-out ‘Project of the Year’ winner that has not only removed a notorious congestion black-spot in the North West, but made journeys to and from the area quicker, easier and more reliable.
The judges were also highly impressed with the project’s remarkable economic benefits which are expected to be four times greater than its initial cost. This is due to the thousands of new jobs created, further regeneration activity planned, and inward investment.
Chair of the judging panel, Will Rees, director at Rees Straw Chartered Surveyors, said: “The Mersey Gateway is so much more than six-lane toll bridge; it is a landmark, unique green project that has set a new bench-mark for sustainable construction and will not only bring major economic benefits to the area, but also environmental advantages.
“This is demonstrated through its Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust (MGET) which has been established to create a nature reserve around the bridge and secure additional funding for environmental initiatives in the area over the next 30 years.”
Another Merseyside winner on the night was the £29m Materials Innovation Factory at the University of Liverpool which scooped the Design through Innovation award for its cutting-edge chemistry research facilities within a state-of-the-art, stylish, yet highly sustainable building.
The winners of all eight individual categories, announced by host, BBC news presenter, Clive Myrie, were:
Building Conservation – Moor Hall Restaurant & Rooms, Ormskirk
Commercial – Stockport Exchange, Stockport
Community Benefit – Sunbeam Music Centre, Penrith
Design through Innovation – The Materials Innovation Factory, Liverpool
Infrastructure – Mersey Gateway Project, Widnes
Regeneration – Space Studios, Manchester
Residential – Timekeepers Square, Salford
Tourism & Leisure – Galloway’s, Morecambe
Mr Rees added: “These winning projects are testament to the successful collaboration of the talented teams behind them.
“Together, their complementary skills and exceptional vision has not only created some remarkable built schemes which the North West can be immensely proud of, but they are also having a profoundly positive impact on their local communities.”
All category winners will go on to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final on November 2, in London, for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective category.
