The best new building and property regeneration projects in Wales have been revealed.
The annual RICS Awards Wales assessed 23 property schemes across the country to decide the best in eight categories, from which was selected the overall Project of the Year.
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Project of the Year and Building Conservation Winner
Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny
The £4.2m restoration of Llwyn Celyn in Abergavenny has sees the rescue of what CADW described as "the most at risk lived-in building in Wales."
The medieval hall-house, which was built in 1421, has been restored using traditional methods.
Its outbuildings have also been restored and given new community uses including interpretation in the Beast House, an adaptable event space in the Threshing Barn, and a bunkhouse in the Granary.
A wide programme of training and events was held during the restoration process.
Judges said of the restoration project: “Based on well-researched heritage values, including the main stays of good conservation practice of minimum intervention and honest repairs, this is a project that provides a model for teaching others what excellent conservation looks like.
"The quality of work, which is outstanding, hugely contributes to this and shows the workmanship that should be expected on all projects, but all too often is not achieved, even in conservation work.”
The judges also praised those behind the project in Donald Insall Associates, the Landmark Trust and I J Preece & Son.
Commercial
Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, Carmarthen
Canolfan S4C Yr Egin is a new 3,600 square metre HQ and media-hub on the Carmarthen campus of University of Wales Trinity St David.
The building provides space for S4C television and other creative, digital and cultural practitioners who promote the Welsh language.
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RICS judges said the team behind the project – including Mott McDonald, BDP, Rural Office for Architecture, and the University of Wales Trinity St David – had succeeded in designing a scheme that encouraged occupiers to collaborate, network and exchange information and ideas, to innovate and create jobs.
Community Benefit
Eastern Community Campus, Cardiff
The new Eastern Community Campus encompasses a secondary school with post-16 accommodation.
External sports facilities including grass pitches and 3G/ 4G pitches, community access to sports and internal facilities.
The new school is a joint facility between Cardiff Council and Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC).
The project was delivered by Capita, Powell Dobson Architects, Cardiff City Council and Wilmott Dixon.
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Design through Innovation
BBC Cymru Wales headquarters, Cardiff
Staff will start moving into the new £120m HQ for BBC Cymru Wales in the centre of Cardiff later this year.
The project is situated on the site of the city's former bus station at the heart of the wider Central Square development from Rightacres Property.
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RICS judges said the team behind the project – including Rightacres Property, Fosters & Partners, and BBC Cymru Wales – have created a spectacular commercial, pre-let building that is part of the transformation of the area.
Infrastructure
University of South Wales – Sport Park, Pontypridd
The University of South Wales Sport Park has been developed to support and maintain the university’s position as one of the largest providers of football coaching degrees in Europe.
It provides facilities which are now enjoyed by both students and visitors alike.
RICS judges said the team behind the project – including Pick Everard, Atkins, University of South Wales, and Kier – have created an outstanding project.
Regeneration
Coed Pella – Conwy County Borough Council Office, Conwy Bay.
As well as providing the council with new office space, Coed Pella key to the regeneration of the town centre of Conwy Ba.
RICS judges said the team behind the project – including Capita, AHR, Conwy County Borough Council, and Muse Developments – had created a state-of-the-art civic complex, relocating significant numbers of staff, and ultimately helping improve the number of businesses establishing in the town centre, with declining vacancy rates.
Residential:
Bridge Street Exchange, Cardiff
The student accommodation project comprises 477 bed spaces, providing panoramic views across the city of Cardiff.
RICS judges said the team behind the project – including Watkin Jones and Son, Rio Architects, and Watkin Jones Group – had created a thoughtfully designed project providing a comfortable living environment with common room, study space, a gym, cycle storage, management facilities and roof terrace gardens.
Tourism & Leisure
Coed y Bleiddiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog
The repair, reinstatement and reuse of an existing railway building as a holiday let for The Landmark Trust took the category for the Coed y Bleiddiau project
The listed cottage is set beside the Ffestiniog Railway.
ICS judges said the team behind the project – including Peter Napier and Company, the Landmark Trust, and Mark Roberts Building and Conservation – have carefully restored the cottage to allow it to be used by visitors to Snowdonia National Park, completed with constricted access, requiring the majority of materials to be brought on site via train.
- The Loftus Garden Village, in Newport , was highly recommended in the Regeneration category.
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