English Heritage chief to help judge Pro-Yorkshire Awards

Jan 5 2010 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A SENIOR figure from English Heritage is to help judge Yorkshire’s premier property awards.

Trevor Mitchell, regional director for planning and development at English Heritage has joined the judging panel for the 2010 Pro-Yorkshire Awards run by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The 12-strong team of independent judges which is headed by Colin Harrop (pictured, below), chairman of the RICS regional board.

The Pro-Yorkshire Awards attract entries from across the property and construction sectors.

The judges, who are all property professionals, face a tough task to choosing the region’s most innovative and inspirational initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.

Mr Harrop, a senior associate at King Sturge LLP in Leeds, said: “We are delighted that Trevor is joining our judges.

“His region-wide role at English Heritage sees him safeguarding historic buildings, landscapes and conservation areas and making cases for them to be at the heart of local regeneration schemes.

“His knowledge and expertise of property will prove a huge asset to the judging process, which is always extremely tough because of the large number of entrants we receive that are of an exceptionally high standard.”

Mr Mitchell began his career with English Heritage over 20 years ago, starting as a historic building inspector before progressing to team leader for West Yorkshire and director for planning and development.

Entries for the RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards can be made until January 22 after which the first round of judging will commence.

Judges first choose a shortlist and from this they select the winners of eight categories – covering building conservation, commercial, community benefit, design and innovation, regeneration, residential, sustainability and tourism and leisure.

There is also a Project of the Year award which is given to a project that has excelled across all eight categories.

In 2009, this went to the Royal Hall in Harrogate for a £10.7m refurbishment of the stunning Edwardian theatre complex, which restored the near-derelict building back to its original magnificence.

Huddersfield University’s £14m futuristic creative arts building was among schemes to be shortlisted for the 2009 awards – being considered in the category for sustainable development.

Entries for the 2008 awards included the £7m Primrose Hill development, which saw a rundown council estate transformed into 79 new homes with environmental features.

Said Mr Harrop: “This year’s awards attracted an entry of 76 projects – more than any other region in England.

“It would be great to beat this number for next year’s awards and showcase the fantastic work we do in this region.”

For a 2010 Pro-Yorkshire Awards entry form or forr further information about the awards, contact RICS events manager Jenny Dyson on 01924 229 300 or jdyson@rics.org