Oldham Town Hall in the running for national recognition

Oldham Town Hall

Oldham Town Hall is one of seven of the North West’s award winning property schemes which will go head-to-head against 95 other accolade winning built initiatives from across the UK next month, for a chance to gain national honours at the 2017 RICS Awards Grand Final.

The seven category winners from this year’s annual RICS Awards, North West – which were held in May – were recognised as the region’s most inspiring and community beneficial built projects, and are now hoping to put the North West on the map by being recognised nationwide:

• Regeneration – Oldham Town Hall, Oldham
• Design through Innovation - Oldham Town Hall, Oldham
• Building Conservation - Birkenhead Priory Conservation Repairs, Birkenhead
• Commercial - One Cathedral Square, Blackburn
• Community Benefit - Crewe Lifestyle Centre, Crewe
• Infrastructure - Ordsall Chord (Northern Hub), Manchester
• Residential - Hayescroft, Manchester
• Tourism & Leisure - Workington Leisure Centre, Workington

Each UK region hosts an annual RICS Awards and the category winners from each of the 12 regional heats will now be pitted against their national peers in the hope of winning the overall UK award in their respective category.

The ‘Project of the Year’ winner from each region will also be in the running for the highest national accolade; the ‘2017 RICS UK Project of the Year’ award.

The £37m scheme to convert the grade II listed Oldham Town Hall into an eight-screen Odeon cinema and contemporary restaurant complex won the title at this year’s RICS Awards, North West where it also scooped two category awards – Design through Innovation and Regeneration.

Chairman of the judging panel for the RICS Awards, North West, Will Rees, Director at Rees Straw Chartered Surveyors said: “The RICS Awards showcase the achievements and community impact of each region’s most inspirational built initiatives and developments, and this year’s winners from the North West heat are truly exemplary and world-class.

“The team’s behind them have demonstrated just what can be achieved with vision, exceptional skills and a solid team effort approach. I wish them all the very best of luck in having their talent and expertise recognised nationally, and gaining nationwide recognition for the positive impact these built projects are having on their local communities.”

The 2017 RICS Awards Grand Final will take place on 2 November at the InterContinental London, Park Lane Hotel (12pm-4pm), and will be hosted by BBC Breakfast News and Sport Anchor, Dan Walker.