Birmingham station crowned RICS U.K. Project of the Year after £1 billion revamp

by Brianna Crandall — November 16, 2016 — Following a major £1 billion redevelopment, Birmingham’s New Street Station was crowned U.K. Project of the Year last month at the 2016 RICS Awards Grand Final by U.K.-based international real estate accreditation organization the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The national RICS Project of the Year accolade is presented to the project that demonstrates outstanding best practice and significant benefit to the local area and wider economy. The redevelopment of Birmingham’s New Street station and Grand Central triumphed over 90 of the United Kingdom’s most impressive property schemes to gain the top award.

Regenerating Birmingham

The Birmingham Gateway and Grand Central project, delivered by a team including Mace, Network Rail, Birmingham City Council and Turner & Townsend, was described by the judging panel as the most significant investment in regenerating Birmingham — one of Britain’s largest and most important cities — in a generation. The investment has created around 10,000 jobs and is expected to deliver around £2 billion in economic benefits.

RICS U.K. Project of the Year: Birmingham New Street Station

Birmingham’s renovated New Street station and Birmingham Grand Central shopping center transformed into a premium retail and leisure destination and world-class station.

The new Birmingham’s New Street Station and its former Pallasades shopping center opened as Birmingham Grand Central in September of last year. The £1 billion project has transformed it into a popular retail and leisure destination and world-class station — five times the size of the original station — with a striking soccer pitch-sized atrium. Meanwhile, the new shopping center — above the station — is now home to the biggest John Lewis outside of London and a mix of premium high street brands and eateries.

Category winners from each of the 12 regional RICS Award ceremonies held earlier this year competed to win the national accolade in their respective category, with host Gethin Jones, broadcaster and TV personality, announcing the winners.

The Grand Final winners:

  • Building Conservation: Mount Stewart, Newtownard (Northern Ireland)
  • Commercial: Landrover BAR America’s Cup HQ, Portsmouth (South East)
  • Community Benefit: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool (North West)
  • Design through Innovation:  Black Rock Quarry, Portishead (South West)
  • Infrastructure: Emergency Care Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead (North East)
  • Regeneration: Birmingham Gateway & Grand Central, Birmingham (West Midlands)
  • Residental:  Romilly Quarter, Barry (Wales)
  • Tourism and Leisure: NT Future, South Bank (London)