THE winners of the RICS Awards 2026 in Scotland have been revealed and a revitalised mill in John O’Groats has been named the very best project.
The projects went head-to-head at a ceremony in Glasgow where John O’Groats Mill was named project of the year, as well as winning in the refurbishment/revitalisation project category, and also being awarded highly commended in the heritage project category.
John O’Groats Mill ceased operation in 2001 and spent two decades on the Buildings at Risk Register with its stonework, roof timbers, and cast-iron machinery deteriorating.
The £4.9 million refurbishment, completed May 2025, addressed both the physical crisis and the underlying purpose deficit – community ownership gave the building a sustainable new use, while architectural innovation, separating modern functions into a buried extension, allowed the historic structure to be conserved.
The mill is now open to visitors six days a week through the season and throughout the year for community events.
Commenting on the winning project the judges said, “John O’Groats Mill is an exceptional submission that stands apart from all other projects reviewed. It is not merely a well-delivered project, it is a profoundly purposeful act of professional practice that demonstrates what RICS professionals can achieve when technical rigour is placed in service of community need.”
The RICS UK Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure – recognising outstanding achievement, teamwork, and companies. The winning projects at each of the regional awards ceremonies will go on to represent their region at the UK Grand Final on Thursday 22nd October.
The full list of winning projects in Scotland are:
- John O’Groats Mill – Project of the Year and Refurbishment/Revitalisation project
- Cloverhill – Residential Development project
- Currie Community High School – Public Sector project
- Dundas House, Edinburgh for BlackRock – Commercial Development project
- Macmillan Square Community Hub, Edinburgh -Community Benefit project
- Paisley Museum Reimagined- Heritage project
There were also two highly commended awards; in the Heritage project category, John O’Groats Mill and Dunfermline Learning Campus in the public sector project category.
Commenting on the awards, UK National awards chair, Kerry Gibbs MRICS, said, “These awards shine a spotlight on the most inspiring people, projects and innovations shaping the built and natural environment. creating a powerful platform that elevates the profile of chartered surveying and celebrates its impact on communities nationwide.
“This year we received over 300 entries across all twelve of the RICS regions.
“The Awards are hugely important. They help demonstrate the positive impact that surveyors, as well as buildings, have on individuals and communities. They promote the role of surveying in making those projects a reality.”
