Downing scoops Personality of the Year award
George Downing, the chairman of Liverpool-headquartered developer Downing, was last night named North West Property Personality of the Year at Insider’s annual North West Property Awards held at Manchester Central.
He has been instrumental in the development of his home city over the last decade, going from developing student living to bigger and better commercial projects, culminating in him becoming the city’s largest single landlord.
The win capped a great night for Downing whose company also picked up the Commercial Workplace Award and the Property Deal of the Year for its work to bring the UK Border Agency to The Capital building in Liverpool.
The event, now in its 12th year, was attended by almost 900 people. The North West Property Personality of the Year award was sponsored by Hill Dickinson.
For more information on the winners see below:
Property Deal of the Year
Winner Downing for the UK Border Agency (UKBA) deal
Shortlisted Ask Goodman for Greater Manchester Police HQ; Property Alliance Group for Tesco in Accrington
Downing’s purchase of Liverpool’s “Sandcastle” was a brave move at the top of the market and it showed further bravery in pouring £15m into its refurbishment – the UKBA deal kept jobs in Liverpool and was just reward for the developer.
Sponsored by Cobbetts
Commercial Workplace Award
Winner Downing for The Capital, Liverpool
Shortlisted BDO and Claremont for 3 Hardman Street, Manchester; Downing for Port of Liverpool Building
Downing’s The Capital was singled out for praise by each one of the judges. One said: “You really have to take your hat off to Downing for sticking to its guns and investing heavily in what has become a blue-chip address in the city.”
Sponsored by Forum for the Built Environment
Architects Practice of the Year
Winner Austin Smith Lord
Shortlisted Sheppard Robson, Falconer Chester Hall
Austin Smith Lord was praised for its range of work in different sectors and locations, with the highlights being Manchester’s People’s History Museum, the Tom Reilly Building for Liverpool John Moores University and the Piccadilly Place masterplan.
Sponsored by Places Matter
Property Law Firm of the Year
Winner DLA Piper
Shortlisted Hill Dickinson, JMW Solicitors
The judges felt that the sheer quantum of the work completed by DLA Piper showed a business on top of its game and marshalling its resources to the fullest effect. Highly impressive work was done on the Equiton portfolio and the Trillium disposal.
Sponsored by The Co-operative Bank
Industrial/Business Space Agents Award
Winner GVA Grimley
Shortlisted King Sturge, Lambert Smith Hampton
Despite a strong showing from the powerful King Sturge and an excellent entry from Lambert Smith Hampton, GVA triumph for the first time in the industrial category. The team played a part in three big deals at Manor Park, Speke and Partington.
Sponsored by SEGRO
Public Sector Team of the Year
Winners Stockport MBC and Team Bury
Shortlisted Central Salford, Rochdale Development Agency
In a first ever dead heat at these awards, the judges found it impossible to split the entries from Stockport and Bury. Stockport’s year was described as “jobs, jobs and more jobs”, while Bury’s proactiveness in enabling three major schemes of different types was praised.
Sponsored by Space Group
Office Agents Award
Winner Savills Commercial
Shortlisted DTZ, Knight Frank
Savills won the day for a range of work that demonstrated its qualities to the fore, providing strategic advice for clients in major deals in Manchester’s One First Street, Chester’s HQ scheme and Birchwood’s Chadwick House.
Sponsored by Orbit Developments
Commercial Developer of the Year
Winner Argent Estates
Shortlisted St Modwen, Muse Developments
Since arriving in Manchester, Argent has built a high-quality team and demonstrated its abilities to innovate and deliver several times over. The Hive project demonstrates that Argent can adapt to working in a different environment.
Sponsored by McGrigors
Investment Agents Award
Winner Savills Commercial
Shortlisted Jones Lang LaSalle, Tushingham Moore
Tushingham Moore was highly commended for excellent work on deals in Chester and on the Primark store in Manchester. But Savills’ weight of numbers prevailed in a year when its average deal value exceeded £22m.
Sponsored by MIDAS
Sustainability Award
Winner Ask Property Developments for Number One First Street, Manchester
Shortlisted Argent Estates for The Hive, Manchester
It’s been a tough time for Ask but the company has stuck at it and this is a deserved prize for one of the region’s most innovative projects. Number One First Street will stand as an exemplar for sustainable development.
Sponsored by Miller Construction
Strategic Alliance Award
Winner St Modwen Properties and Halton MBC for Widnes RegenerationShortlisted St Modwen Properties and Manchester City Council for Wythenshawe Town Centre; The Kingsway Partnership for Kingsway, Rochdale. Widnes Regeneration celebrated its tenth year in 2009 and stands as a shining example of the value of partnership working, delivering employment, leisure and laying foundations for further growth.
Sponsored by TSK
Property Finance Award
Winner The Co-operative Bank
Shortlisted Investec Private Bank, Bridging Finance (North West)
The third new category added for 2010 was brought in to recognise the role played by those who have to make the hardest calls of all. When several lost their heads, The Co-operative Bank kept theirs and has kept on track a range of projects vital to the regional economy. The judges said: “They’re the most visible bank and the one you hear consistently good things about.”
Sponsored by First Title
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