The search to find the West Midlands’ standout built projects - that are having a significant positive impact on their local communities - is on, following the opening of entries for the RICS Awards 2019, West Midlands.

The annual RICS Awards celebrate the region’s top property projects that provide real value to the communities they serve by making them a better place to live, study, work or visit. The eight categories include Building Conservation, Residential, Commercial property and Infrastructure, and there’s an overall esteemed ‘Project of the Year’ title, awarded to the development that demonstrates outstanding best practice and an exemplary commitment to adding value to its local area.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in Birmingham won the ‘Project of the Year’ title at this year’s RICS Awards, West Midlands and it will now compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final on 2 November for the chance to be crowned the 2018 ‘UK Project of the Year.’

Each category award winner is also automatically entered into the national RICS Awards Grand Final to compete against other regional winners for a chance to gain the national accolade in their respective category.

Category winners from the RICS Awards 2018, West Midlands - which will now compete for national awards - are:

  • Building Conservation – Attingham Park – Visitor Centre, Biomass Plant, and Stables Café Renovations, Shrewsbury
  • Commercial – Kingswood Lakeside – First Choice Catering Space, Cannock
  • Community Benefit – TouchBase Pears, Selly Oak
  • Design through Innovation – Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, Birmingham
  • Infrastructure – Tool Box Talk Video Infrastructure
  • Regeneration – National College for High Speed Rail, Birmingham
  • Residential – Maple West, Stoke-on-Trent
  • Tourism & Leisure – World of Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent
Bryony Martin of AECOM and Chair of Judges for the RICS Awards, West Midlands said: “The properties we live in, and the buildings we visit or work and study in, can have a real impact on our wellbeing and productivity, and that’s what makes the RICS Awards stand out: they celebrate the projects – regardless of budget or scale – that are making a real difference to people’s lives.”

She adds: “Our region has some of the very best skilled property professionals, and these awards also celebrate the collaboration of such talented professionals in the teams that have delivered world-class developments that are having a positive impact not only on their local communities, but often also on the wider economy by attracting visitors and investment to the region.

“We wish this year’s winners the best of luck in representing our region at the national Grand Final in November, and showing the other UK regions that the West Midlands can offer some of the best places to live, work and visit thanks to these exemplary projects.”