THE best new commercial and public property developments in Scotland have been revealed at the second annual Scottish Property Awards.
Prime Four Business Park in Aberdeen, Johnstone Town Hall and the Maggie’s Centre in Airdrie were among the big winners of the awards programme which recognises new developments and regeneration projects in commercial property.
A total of 14 awards were presented at the packed out event in Edinburgh including the ultimate award of the night, Scottish Property Company of the Year, won by Drum Property for their work developing Prime Four business park in year which also saw further expansion for the Aberdeen-based developer.
Clyde Gateway, the urban regeneration organisation, collected a judges’ award of merit in the same category.
Projects in Glasgow and the West of Scotland picked up many of the prizes. GHA and Anderson Bell Christie collected the best city regeneration award for Duke Street and High Street, Glasgow. Irvine collected the Town Centre regeneration award for the creation of the Bridgegate Public Realm. The Anderston Regeneration and Laurieston Living in Glasgow were both highly commended by the judging panel.
The Hillhead Community Centre in Kirkintilloch collected the award for Community Partnership of the Year and Clyde Gateway collected a judges’ award of merit, specially created to recognise their achievements in the last year.
In Edinburgh, the redevelopment of Fountainbridge, an 8.2 acre brownfield site adjacent to the Union Canal, also collected an award for Excellence in Masterplanning for EDI Group and architects 7n.
Team awards were also presented as Ryden collected the Property Agency Team of the Year and RBS Real Estate Finance won the award for Property Funding Team of The Year.
The awards are supported by the Scottish Property Federation, chair of the organisation and member of the judging panel, John Hamilton, commented; “The Scottish Property Awards give us time to reflect on great achievements in the sector and with a strong and impressive list of finalists we can be confident that the industry is in good health. The vast array of projects and teams considered prove a large volume of emerging and established talent in the design, development and management of commercial property. Congratulations to all the winners and we hope that this provides a positive incentive to organisations, teams and people as they continue in their hard work developing property investment in Scotland.”
The awards have an important charity dimension as the event was also an important fundraiser for The Ripple Retreat, a luxury residence on Loch Venacher which will be gifted to parents of children with cancer. The project which has achieved planning permission is currently in the final stages of vital fundraising to reach its £1m target required before construction starts in June. Chair and founder of the charity, Lynne McNicoll, said, “We are over the moon to have the support of the Scottish Property Awards and we pass our heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists and winners together with our deepest thanks to guests and companies who gave so generously.”
The second annual event, a sell-out success when it was first staged in February 2014, was celebrated at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre in front of 525 guests. DJ Grant Stott hosted alongside BBC Scotland anchor Catriona Shearer.
The Winners in Full
Development of the Year (Commercial Buildings) sponsored by Ryden
Prime Four, Aberdeen (Drum Property Group)
Development of the Year (Public buildings) sponsored by BRE Scotland
Johnstone Town Hall, Renfrewshire (Renfrewshire Council)
Architectural Excellence Award (Public Buildings) sponsored by Wolffe
Winner: Maggie’s Centre, Airdrie, Lanarkshire (Reiach and Hall Architects)
Highly commended: Bannockburn Visitors Centre (Reiach and Hall Architects)
Architectural Excellence (Commercial Buildings) sponsored by Call Print
Albus, Eastgate, Bridgeton (JM Architects)
City Regeneration Project of the Year sponsored by Scottish Cities Alliance
Winner: Duke Street and High Street, Glasgow (GHA, Anderson Bell Christie and Cruden Building and Renewals)
Highly Commended: Anderston Regeneration, Glasgow (CCG) and Laurieston Living, Glasgow (Urban Union Ltd)
Town Centre Regeneration Project of the Year
Bridgegate Public, Realm Irvine, North Ayrshire (Austin-Smith Lord LLP)
Community Partnership of the Year sponsored by G+V Royal Mile Hotel
Hillhead Community Centre, Kirkintilloch (Hub West Scotland)
Best Achievement in Master Planning sponsored by the Scotsman
Fountainbridge Masterplan, Edinburgh – EDI Group Ltd (7N Architects)
Property Agency Team of the Year sponsored by Bank of Scotland
Ryden
Property Funding Team of the Year sponsored by Weightmans
Winner – RBS Real Estate Finance Scotland
Highly Commended – Amber Infrastructure & The SPRUCE Fund
Deal of the Year sponsored by Santander
BAM Properties for the sale of 101 Queen Street Glasgow
Outstanding Individual Contribution
Chris Stewart, Chris Stewart Group
Property Company of the Year sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland
Winner – Drum Property Group, Aberdeen
Judges Award of Merit
Clyde Gateway, Glasgow
