The RICS Awards 2007 Grand Final winners were announced by Channel 4’s Kevin McCloud on 19 October 2007, at a sumptuous lunchtime ceremony held at The Dorchester, London.

The Awards are the annual celebration of built and natural environment projects that demonstrate excellence in the categories; Regeneration, Building Conservation, Community Benefit and Sustainability and a commitment to value for money and sustainability. 

RICS Project of the year

This year the prestigious Project of the Year award was presented to Oxford Castle. Simon Pott, Chairman of Judges comments:

“This project is everything a mixed use scheme should be. The components complement one another and combine to create an attractive destination for local people and tourists. The development has brought a renewed sense of history to the area, and has already shown itself to be a major catalyst in the regeneration of Oxford’s West End. All in all, it is an exceptional project.”

A special judges prize was also awarded to the project which excelled in creating an inclusive environment for all that used and visited the building.

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Building Conservation

Sponsored by Wesleyan for Professionals
Winner	Kew Palace, Royal Botanical Gardens, Richmond London, UK
Commended	Stowe House restoration Plan (Phase 2), Stowe South East, UK
Commended	St Paul's Church Bristol South West, UK
Commended	Restoration and Extension of Model Primary School, Newtownards Northern Ireland

Sponsored by Natwest
Winner	St Paul's Church Bristol South West, UK
Commended	Bridge End Garden, Saffron Walden East, UK
Commended	Hornby Village Institute, Lancaster North West, UK
Commended	Alexandra Toy Library, Johannesburg Republic of South Africa

Regeneration award

Sponsored by Interphone Security Group
Winner	Arsenal Regeneration Project, London London, UK
Commended	Antwerp Law Courts Belgium

Sponsored by HSBC
Winner	The Rivergreen Centre, Durham North East, UK
Commended	Great Glen House, Inverness Scotland

 Inclusive environment

The categories showcase the skills offered, and the contribution made, in delivering world-class projects. 

In addition to the four main award categories, the Project of the Year award is given to any entry that is judged to have excelled in any (or all) of the main categories.

Oxford Castle and the other category winners join an elite group of past winners including the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Bullring in Birmingham and the Eden Project in Cornwall. 

In 2005 due to the growth of number of entries, regional heats were introduced to create a shortlist for the final. There are 12 UK regional heats, and an international heat, where projects from outside the UK are pitted against one another.

The regional heats are an invaluable part of what makes the RICS Awards so special. The dedication and time commitment of over 80 regional judges means that the national awards final showcases the very best new projects in the built and natural environment.

While only four schemes go forward to the national shortlist, many more schemes receive well-deserved recognition of their achievements, both amongst peers and in the local and regional press.   

View a list of previous winners.