Six of Lincolnshire’s finest construction projects have been announced as finalists in the RICS East Midlands Awards 2008.

Now in their 18th year, the RICS Awards celebrate and recognise exemplary projects across four award categories - building conservation, (sponsored by Nottingham Trent University), regeneration (sponsored by East Midlands Development Agency), sustainability and community benefit (sponsored by Electical Contractors Association).

This year’s nominees include:

• Marshalls Yard, which has secured two nominations in the Building Conservation and the Regeneration categories.

Named by local schoolboy Alex Stephenson, Marshalls Yard opened in Easter 2007. The £39 million development of a former brownfield site in the centre of Gainsborough produced a high quality mixed use scheme, incorporating retail units, office accommodation, leisure facilities and public space.

The scheme and its impact on the town was recognised by the British Council of Shopping Centres in December 2007, which gave it a gold award describing it as "a shining example of regeneration."

• Louth Museum, which has been entered in the Community Benefit category. 

Originally built in 1910, Louth Museum is located in the beautiful historic market town of Louth, in Lincolnshire. Following an investment of £660,000, the original museum was refurbished and extended in 2006.

Two additional galleries, a reception, a collection store, toilets and a first floor classroom/library were built, with disabled access created throughout the complex. In addition, brand new displays, exhibitions and interactive and interpretation displays were created for the benefit of the public.

• Lincoln’s second nominee in the Community Benefit category is the Spout Yard Arts and Community Park Project.

The newly designed Spout Yard community park has been designed with people of all ages in mind, with maintenance of the area being undertaken by members of the public who have volunteered to be a part of the scheme. Art events, hobbies, open air arts, gardening sessions, team catering and play area management, are all open to the public, which effectively involves the whole community in the project. 

• The county’s second nominee in the Building Conservation category is St Mary's Guildhall.

St Mary’s Guildhall is widely considered to be one of the finest medieval guildhalls in England and is more than 600-years-old. A Grade I listed building, it has undergone a major programme of repair and refurbishment and is due to reopen this year as a visitor attraction.

• The Building Conservation category also includes River View Maltings.

A Grade II Listed building, River View Maltings has been beautifully transformed into 43 brand new apartments with a gymnasium and private car park. The objective of the project was to blend the best of old and new to create a “post-industrial” living space. 

• Lincoln’s final nominee is Witham St.Hughs Primary School in the Sustainability category.

This brand new primary school includes the use of timber panel walls and roof with timber doors and windows, creating a new sustainable approach to schooling.

 David Potter, RICS East Midlands operations director, said: “As always, competition for the awards has been at a very high standard so Marshalls Yard, Louth museum, Spout Yard Arts and Community Park Project, St Mary's Guildhall, River View Maltings and Witham St Hughs Primary School, have done extremely well to be amongst the finalists.

Over the last year, Lincolnshire has witnessed a significant increase in investment in new facilities, housing, infrastructure and regeneration projects and these nominations are testament to that growth. 

“We wish all the nominees the very best of luck for the next stage of the competition, which will be the regional awards ceremony at the East Midlands Conference Centre, in Nottingham, on May 9.”

The 2008 RICS East Midlands regional dinner and awards ceremony will be hosted by BBC presenter, Janine Machin. Joining her on the night will be special guest speaker, Ron Atkinson, one of football’s larger than life personalities, whose 24 years managerial experience has made him a greatly respected voice in the game and a fantastic after dinner speaker.

In addition to the individual category sponsors, Hays is kindly providing sponsorship for the overall event.