Thames Valley Property Awards 2023: all the winners
The region’s biggest property event marked its 10th anniversary by celebrating winners in 15 categories. The Thames Valley Property Awards 2023 held at Ascot Racecourse lived up to its tradition as an unforgettable networking evening.
Firms and individuals comprising the strong line-up of finalists represented the sector’s highest achievers from developers, agents and planners to consultants, property lawyers and dealmakers.
Welcoming the finalists, sponsors and guests, Richard Thompson, Managing Director of The Business Magazine, said: “Companies are becoming used to new ways of working, with technology bearing the strain for the hybrid working practices. The move from full remote working has meant a need for flexible, high-quality office space resulting in the significant growth of that market.”
He added that the quality of entries was as high as ever and challenged the judging panel. They included three independent judges: Scott Witchalls from Stantec, Andy Jansons from Jansons Property, and Fiona Brownfoot from Hicks Baker.
The Award category sponsors were Boyes Turner, B P Collins LLP, CoStar, Gateley Legal, Haslams Surveyors LLP, IBB Law, MAPP, Morgan Lovell and Sightline. The programme sponsor was Mactaggart & Mickel and the other supporter was Northwood Investors (The Blade).
Once again, the charity sponsored by the Awards was the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, which offers a children’s hospice service to families in the Berkshire area. On the night, the audience donated £6,758.40 to the charity.
Comedian, writer, presenter and actor Hal Cruttenden hosted the awards with his trademark humour.
And the winners are…
Offices Consultancy of the Year – sponsored by Morgan Lovell (Data powered by CoStar)
Winner (by number of deals and square footage): Hollis Hockley
“It’s been a tough year and a challenging market for lettings but we always work really hard to win market share. The company has been a strong advocate of getting back to the office and has been doing that since the first Covid-19 lockdown. It improves communication and helps us to advise our clients appropriately. We are seeing occupiers’ sentiment towards returning to offices hardening. Many businesses are moving to better-qualify accommodation and using that to incentivise staff to return.” Alice Hilliard, partner, Rhodri Shaw, Partner, Hollis Hockley
Finalists (by number of deals):
• Curchod & Co
• Lambert Smith Hampton
• Page Hardy Harris
• Savills
Finalists (by square foot)
• Bray Fox Smith
• Cushman & Wakefield
• JLL
• Lambert Smith Hampton
Industrial/Logistics Consultancy of the Year – sponsored by CoStar (Data powered by CoStar)
Winner (by number of deals and square footage): JLL
Finalists (by number of deals):
• Chandler Garvey
• Curchod & Co
• Duncan Bailey-Kennedy
• Haslams Surveyors LLP
• Hurst Wayne & Partners Surveyors
Finalists (by square foot):
• CBRE
• Curchod & Co
• Dowley Turner Real Estate
• Savills
Community Impact Award – sponsored by MAPP
Winner: Frasers Property UK
“We have dedicated charities at each of our estates across the Thames Valley and host fundraising events for them. People working on our estates support these, like a sleep-out for Launchpad, our charity in Reading. In terms of sustainability, we have various targets and are introducing new measures like solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and biodiversity initiatives. On the wellbeing side, we host free fitness classes, mental health workshops and other opportunities for people to mingle.” Nancy Apperley, Marketing Manager
Finalists:
• Arlington Business Park
• Berkeley Homes (Oxford and Chiltern)
• Frasers Property UK
• Wirth Research
Architectural Practice of the Year – sponsored by B P Collins LLP
Winner: Carless + Adams
“We specialise in the design of living and care accommodation across the UK. For that, you need an understanding of how to make a space the best it can be for a resident. We take a bespoke approach for every scheme. We also use virtual reality and CGI technology that helps our designers understand project requirements. The technology also helps end users and their families to understand more about the property they are going into. We’re delighted to win the award as a firm working in the care sector.” Melissa Magee, Managing Director, George Morris, Associate, Neil Rutland, Associate, Carless + Adams
Finalists are:
• HGP Architects
• Jessop and Cook Architects
• Philip Wadge Architecture
Office Design Specialist of the Year – sponsored by Haslams Surveyors LLP
Winner: Curve Workplaces
“It’s been quite an exciting year for us. We have expanded our landlord and investor business and continue to grow our occupier business. Our furniture business has also grown and we have started a lighting business. We’ve also brought in former Olympic rower James Cracknell to talk to our clients about wellbeing and sustainability. Post-pandemic we are seeing the debate around hybrid working continue and even if clients need less space they still have work for us to do.” Michael Potter, Managing Director, Curve Workplaces
Finalists:
• Area
• Morgan Lovell
Commercial Development of the Year – sponsored by IBB Law,
Winner: Cheng Yu Tung Building, Jesus College
“Seamless community integration was pivotal in our project's success. The building innovatively combines retail spaces, a GP surgery, and advanced teaching facilities, serving both Jesus College’s existing historic infrastructure, while seamlessly fitting into the serene new College Quad and bustling Oxford streets. Our team’s dedication to producing such a high-quality building using sustainable construction delivers central Oxford’s first new all-electric building, powered by on-site renewables, including a concealed photovoltaic array and ground source heat pumps, covering 40% of energy needs. Utilising existing concrete structures alongside carbon-negative cross-laminated timber efficiently manages carbon emissions, aligning with Oxford City Council's ambitious 86% emissions reduction goal and supporting Jesus College's vision to achieve net-zero carbon status by 2035.” Victoria Hasson, Business Development & Marketing Manager, Bidwells
Finalists:
• The Innovation Quarter, Oxford Technology Park
• Vanguard, HGP Architects
Housebuilder of the Year – sponsored by Boyes Turner
Winner: Elivia Homes
“We have had an exceptional year. We raised several hundred million pounds in development capital from Octopus Investments, rebranded the group to unify our workforce and have grown our team by 71%. We acquired Millwood Designer Homes in Kent and also the Seaward Strategic portfolio that will deliver strategic land between 2025 and 2032. This helps to give us longevity and certainty of our cashflow in the southern region. We have also won Gold awards for customer satisfaction and have a sustainability rollout and extensive skills training as part of our business model.” Kam Grewal, Chief Operating Officer, Elivia Homes
Finalists:
• Darcliffe Homes
• Shanly Homes
The Morgan Lovell Workplace Of The Future Award – sponsored by Morgan Lovell
Winner: Bee House, Milton Park
“Bee House provides flexible workspace. We had been planning hybrid working at Milton Park before the Covid-19 pandemic and it has taken off since. There are a lot of science and technology companies at Milton Park and there is a great ecosystem of people working here. We designed the kitchens in Bee House in the middle to help bring people out of their offices – it’s how innovation happens. People love the vibe in the building – there’s a real buzz!” Anna Fletcher, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, Milton Park
Finalists:
• Butlin’s offices, Hemel Hempstead
• Sorbon Estates
Property Law Firm of the Year – sponsored by Haslams Surveyors LLP
Winner: B P Collins LLP
“The last 12 months have been phenomenal – from the growth of B P Collins’ property team, which is working across the Thames Valley, to our number of retained clients reaching an all-time high with many returning time after time to work with us. This is a testament to the strong relationships we have cultivated and the high quality, friendly and proactive service we provide, often working to tight timescales to meet their needs.
“This year we are proud to have advised high-profile clients, including in TV and film production, who are changing the landscape of the Thames Valley economy and attracting millions of pounds worth of investment to the region. We look forward to continuing our work with them in the future.” Alison Taylor, Property Partner and Practice Group Leader, B P Collins LLP
Finalists:
• Blandy & Blandy
• Boyes Turner
• Herrington Carmichael
• IBB Law
• Mills & Reeve
Property Management Business of the Year – sponsored by Sightline
Winner: MAPP
“It’s been a good year for us in terms of consolidating our client base, winning new business and ensuring we give our clients what they want in sustainability and other key development areas. We have set up a specialist team for sustainability so we can really offer a difference for clients, especially in making their buildings compliant. MAPP also decided to be an early adopter of B Corp accreditation. It’s what we wanted as its values represent what we want to be as a business.” Martin Holland, Senior Executive Director, MAPP
Finalist:
• CBRE
Property Deal of the Year – sponsored by B P Collins LLP
Winner: Sorbon Estates converts Grove House building use
“This was a former office building on Grove Park Business Estate that became vacant during the Covid-19 pandemic. Filling office space was difficult post-pandemic but instead of going to residential we looked for an alternative use and opted for medical. The building features operating theatres, a private GP survey, pharmacy, clinic rooms and is also a training centre.” Jessica Nicholls, Marketing Manager, Sorbon Estates
Finalists:
• Disposal of Land West of Windsor (North) from Wates Developments to Crest Nicholson – Leaders Romans Group
• Elivia Homes acquires backing from Octopus Investments
• Elivia Homes acquires Kent-based Millwood Designer Homes
Sustainable Development or Climate Initiative Award – sponsored by IBB Law
Winner: Queen Elizabeth Class Logistics Centre, Portsmouth Naval Base - Francis Construction
“One of our biggest challenges was the ground conditions. Nobody had investigated them until we got there and we discovered a huge amount of underground obstacles. We had to excavate down to the seabed level while staying on time and budget. Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels generate energy and we have preserved four listed towers at each corner of the building.” Marcus Jenkins, Contracts Manager, Francis Construction
Finalists:
• Bullingdon Community Centre – Jessop and Cook Architects
• Wirth Research
Residential Development of the Year – sponsored by Gateley Legal
Winner: Horlicks Quarter, Slough – Berkeley Homes
“This was a fantastic opportunity to restore the iconic Horlicks building, which is the centrepiece of this mixed-use development. It offers affordable housing and high-quality new-build apartments. Community facilities include open spaces, a gym and a cinema. There will be a communal garden on the top of the old Horlicks building and the clock tower has been refurbished as a co-working space for residents.” Elkie Russell, Managing Director, Berkeley Homes
Finalists:
• Riverside Court, Botley – Thomas Homes
• Stoneham Park – Darcliffe Homes
Young Property Person of the Year – sponsored by The Business Magazine
Winner: Lewis Djemal – Harrison Clark Rickerbys
“I was lucky to get a work experience job at Clifton Ingram where I fell in love with law. They were good enough to offer me a training contract if I got a law degree. When I finished my training contract our managing partner, who was a commercial property lawyer, asked me to be his number two. I admired the energy and drive of HCR and joined the firm as the youngest head of a team to take on the project of building our team in Reading and the Thames Valley.” Lewis Djemal
Finalists:
• Megan Brooks, Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties
• Archie Chitty – Lambert Smith Hampton
• Izzie Diment – Paul Basham Associates
• Nishtha Misra – IBB Law
• Claire Watson-Gold – Morgan Lovell
• Beth Wilson – Evoke
Fast Rising Property Business of the Year – sponsored by CoStar
Winner: Evoke
“Last year was very good for us. We expanded in Reading and opened a new office in Birmingham. We’re building a really good team and are working on a diverse range of projects. Our client base is growing. We’re enjoying it – which is the key for us. Our main challenge now is recruitment as this is a very competitive market.” Evoke
Highly commended: AYM Services
Finalists:
• Elivia Homes
• Evoke
• Wirth Research
