Building and development are key words in the Thames Valley property sector, and appropriately they also summed up this second annual awards event – having built attendance numbers, added award categories and quickly developed into “undoubtedly one of the biggest property events of its kind in the region outside London.”
“This year’s Awards have seen phenomenal interest. There are more than 500 developers, property consultants, town planners, occupiers, funders, lawyers, contractors and real estate executives here in this room tonight,” said Matthew Battle, managing director of UK Property Forums, and David Murray, publisher of The Business Magazine, as they began the awards gala by welcoming the black-tie diners – 160 more than the inaugural event last year.
“Once again, we are together flying the flag for the Thames Valley region – with the property sector showing what a great place to work and live within this region truly is.”
Murray explained that the evening would showcase and celebrate commercial and residential property in the Thames Valley and the successful developers, consultants, planners, contractors, lawyers and dealmakers in the sector. It would also include two new awards – Property Law Firm of the Year and The ‘Rising Star’ Property Business of the Year.
Haslams chartered surveyors proudly sponsored the Deal of the Year award for the second year running. This year’s award was hotly contested between; 450 South Oak Way, Green Park, One Waterside Drive, Theale and 730 Wharfedale Road, Winnersh Triangle.
It was Partriza’s pre let Rockwell Collins at Winnersh Triangle that deservedly came out and top. “Pre lets can be difficult to land particularly in a market which at the time was only just turning. I am not surprised the Rockwell Collins deal won the award. The overall quality of this award has been impressive for the two years we have sponsored the award. I suspect the competition will be even higher in the next couple of years as the level of transactions increases with improved market conditions” commented Neil Seager Partner at Haslams.
Guests showed their generosity through donations for the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, raising £6,379 for the event’s chosen charity. The money raised will go into the Alexander Devine fund for the first children’s hospice in Berkshire, now being built at Maidenhead.
Guest presenter for the evening was Gyles Brandreth, the multi-talented former Oxford Union president, broadcaster, author, journalist, West End performer, and actually no stranger to awards of his own. Notably, with the recent General Election still in many minds, Brandreth also served as MP for Chester 1992-97 and within John Major’s government.
A list of winners from the evening is shown below:-
| Business Park of the Year | Green Park, Reading |
| Workplace Environment | Barton Willmore, Reading |
| Industrial & Logistics Property Consultancy of the Year | Cushman & Wakefield |
| Commercial Property Consultancy | Lambert Smith Hampton |
| Town of the Year | Reading |
| Housebuilder of the Year | Inland Homes |
| Real Estate Executive | Anne Columbia of Trip Advisor |
| Development of the Year | One Valpy Street, Reading |
| Commercial Property Deal of the Year | 730 Wharfedale Road, Winnersh Triangle |
| Rising Star Property Business of the Year | Heaton & Partners |
| Property Law Firm of the Year | Shoosmiths |
| Outstanding Contribution | Nick Coote of Lambert Smith Hampton |
Added by
Neil Seager
BSc (Hons) MRICS