Awards night shows our city is a real hot property

Apr 12 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

THE cream of property developers in Merseyside gathered last night for a glittering awards evening at the BT Convention Centre.

The fourth annual Daily Post Regional Property Awards came at one of the most exciting periods the region has ever seen.

The awards, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, recognise the outstanding contribution of those developers whose efforts have seen the city regeneration accelerate at an unprecedented rate.

Quentin Willson, the former Top Gear presenter and prolific author, who returned this year to host the awards repeated his impressions of a burgeoning city that is racing towards an exciting future.

He said: “Everytime I visit Liverpool my heart leaps. The way you have respected the glorious buildings that the top hatted Victorians bequeathed but yet managed to bring into that the stirling, imaginative gap toothed skyline, is truly remarkable.”

And the man behind the biggest development the city has ever seen, Duke of Westminster Gerald Grosvenor, was there to receive a special award for his backing of the Liverpool One project.

He was handed the 2008 Transformational Investment Award for the £1bn rebuild of Liverpool’s shopping district which is set to open late in May.

He said: “This is the largest inner city development we’ve undertaken anywhere in the world.

“Our development has been a bit like a giant jigsaw puzzle and it’s the biggest puzzle we’ve ever had to put together – the grey hairs show that.

“Being on my doorstep, I’ve kept a close eye on it and we’re exceedingly proud to have brought it in a year early when no-one thought we could do it.” His words were met with warm applause at the convention centre which itself speaks volumes about the reinvention of Liverpool.

ACC, designed by Wilkinson Eyre, dominates the waterfront and was used for the official opening of the city’s Capital of Culture year and many other 08 events.

The architects have been nominated for this year’s Royal Institute for Architect (RIBA) awards in the North West and some are tipping this building to land the firm its third Stirling Prize.

However, last night it was the turn of ACC general managers Jacquie Rogers to receive the plaudits by winning the Regeneration Award.

Speaking after she accepted trophy, she said she was proud to be running a multi-award winning facility that was reaching world class status.

That the conference centre is just one of scores of massive projects winning acclaim across the country speaks volumes about the levels being set by developers.

Liverpool Habitat for Humanity has had quite a week, having won praise from MP Louise Ellman during a visit on Wednesday.

The Riverside MP met volunteers who are helping build their own homes in a scheme for low-income families struggling to scrape together a mortgage.

It is a project that has already earned recognition in the North West Regional Construction Awards for its “outstanding contribution to social development and cohesion within the heartland of Liverpool”.

And last night The Rev Shannon Ledbetter, a former Bond girl, capped off these accolades with an award for Social Housing.

She said: “The success of this project is down to the character of the people of Liverpool.” And one of the city’s great servants was recognised for his long tenure at Liverpool Vision which has in many ways helped shape the city we see today.

Sir Joe Dwyer, on picking up the Acheivers Award, said: “I’ve been CEO of a major Plc and I’ve been knighted but perhaps the closest thing I’ve had to that is the recognition in this city, getting this award in this year, 2008.”

All the winners from the awards night

• Residential Development of the Year – City Style Living
  Eden Square – Downing

• Residential Development of the Year – Suburban Lifestyle
  Cressington Heath, Redrow Homes

• Residential Development of the Year – Social Housing
  Liverpool Habitat for Humanity

• Retail, Office or Leisure Development of the Year
  Exchange Flags, UK Land and Property Ltd

• Mixed Use Development of the Year
  West Tower, Aedas/Carillion

• Property Developer of the Year – SME Business
  Spencer Holdings PLC

• Property Developer of the Year – Large Business
  Bruntwood

• Best Partnership Project
  YMCA Birkenhead, Cosmopolitan Housing

• Regeneration Award
  Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool

• Achievers Award
  Sir Joe Dwyer, former chairman of Liverpool Vision