Two of Hertfordshire’s finest construction projects have been shortlisted for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) East of England Awards 2008. 

Altogether a record 29 entries have been shortlisted from across the East of England and will battle it out at the final on Thursday 15 May, at Hatfield House, in Hertfordshire.

Now in their 18th year, the RICS awards, celebrate and recognise exemplary projects across four categories – building conservation, regeneration, sustainability and community benefit.

The two Hertfordshire projects shortlisted are:

• Roche Headquarters
Building Design Partnership has been shortlisted in the sustainability category for its Roche Headquarters project in Welwyn Garden City.  The building achieves a BREEAM environmental rating of 10 out of 10 and has been delivered ahead of schedule and within budget. The fine contemporary building is a striking example of how offices on business parks are evolving to provide a high-standard of working environment. 

• Kingspan Lighthouse
Sheppard Robson has been shortlisted in the Sustainability category for its Kingspan Lighthouse project in Watford.  The two-bedroom lighthouse has achieved Level Six of the Code for Sustainable Homes and the government has recognised it as the first official zero-carbon home.  The scheme was created to encourage developers to build these types of properties and buyers to take an interest in them.

David Potter, RICS East of England operations manager, said: “The RICS awards is one of the most important and prestigious international showcases for the property industry. In the East of England we will be recognising and celebrating the projects that have led the way in helping to regenerate and conserve our region over the past year.”

“This year we have received a record-breaking number of entries and as always, all have been of a very high standard. Roche Headquarters and Kingspan Lighthouse have done extremely well to be amongst the finalists and I wish them both the very best of luck in the final.”

The 2008 RICS East of England regional dinner and awards are taking place at The Old Palace, Hatfield House, Hatfield.  All 220 tickets for the awards have now sold out and will be entertained by special guests, BBC presenter Janine Machin, who will be hosting the event, and John Spence, chairman of Harlow Renaissance, who will be delivering the after dinner speech.

The event is being kindly sponsored by ECA, English Heritage, English Partnerships, Inspire East and Ridgeons.   

All of the winners of the RICS East of England Awards 2008 will go through to the RICS Awards international final in London later this year.