The region’s top property firms, developments, deals and individuals have been celebrated at Insider’s North East Property Awards 2026. The event – held last night at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead and compered by Martin Roberts – showcased the success and achievements of the property sector over the course of the last 12 months. The awards were sponsored by PORCELANOSA, Teesworks Ltd, Together, N&T Civils, Lambert Smith Hampton and Swinburne Maddison LLP. The headline sponsor was Advance Northumberland. FW Capital was the networking booklet sponsor, with Lantern the table plan sponsor. Develop North sponsored the drinks reception and Parker Knights did the Business Card Draw.
Architectural/Design Practice of the Year
Winner: NORR
NORR is a fully integrated firm of Architects, part of an international group. The North East team’s past year has been defined by the extraordinary success of the Stephenson Building redevelopment at Newcastle University, a project that has not only transformed an outdated estate asset but has delivered a profound impact for its users, the University, and the region – a project that greatly impressed the judges.
Shortlisted:
GT3 Architects
MawsonKerr
Property Consultancy of the Year
Winner: Lichfields
2025 was another great year for Lichfields in the North East. The team achieved record turnover, maintaining its position as the largest planning consultancy office in the north of England. The judges were particularly impressed by the company’s focus on social well-being and diversity, through both internal initiatives and its work in the planning and development sector.
Shortlisted:
Adept Building Consultancy
Identity Consult
Property Law Firm of the Year
Sponsored by Lambert Smith Hampton
Winner: Muckle LLP
Muckle’s property team advised on some market-leading transactions across the region, advising Newcastle University on the joint venture to develop new student accommodation with Unite Students and the new Draken 362 hangar development at Teesside International Airport. The judges also noted Muckle’s ESG work and its retention of its B Corp Certification.
Shortlisted:
Hay & Kilner
Swinburne Maddison LLP
Agency Team of the Year
Winner: Avison Young
Another successful year for the Avison Young team, having worked on the pre-let of Pilgrim Place 1 to DWP, the acquisition of Premier Inn Sunderland and the Disposal of 1 Fiennes Road, among a host of other projects. The judges noted the firm’s continued investment in technology that is used to further assist with the depth of advice available to its clients.
Shortlisted:
Lambert Smith Hampton
Parker Knights
Housebuilder of the Year
Sponsored by N&T Civils Ltd
Winner: Story Homes
Story Homes delivered 405 high-quality homes across the North East during the qualifying period, working on eight residential developments, each designed to meet the needs of diverse communities. The judges felt Story Homes demonstrated an understanding of its customers, investing in local communities, and consistently delivering sustainable, high-quality developments, a strong local supply chain, and demonstrable economic and social impacts.
Highly commended: Banks Homes
Shortlisted:
Bellway Durham
Vistry
Office Fit-out of the Year
Winner: Cundall Bank House, Newcastle
Delivered on time and on budget, the fit‑out has transformed how staff experience their working day, bringing to life a space that prioritises wellbeing, inclusion and flexibility. Only 30 per cent of the floorplate is dedicated to desks, with the majority given to a diverse range of staff‑led spaces, reflecting a modern, hospitality-inspired workplace, making this the stand-out scheme according to the judges.
Shortlisted:
Atom Bank, Pattern Shop, Newcastle
Nexus, Newcastle Helix
Parkdean Resorts HQ, Gosforth Business Park
Van Oord, Newcastle
Property Refurbishment of the Year
Winner: Stephenson Building, Newcastle University
The scheme centralised seven previously dispersed engineering departments into one unified building, with the final basement phase being completed in March last year. The redevelopment has dramatically elevated the workplace, teaching, learning, and research environment for the University’s engineering community by consolidating multiple departments into one interconnected hub. The judges felt the overall project has delivered improved student experience, enhanced wellbeing, and powerful public impact.
Highly commended: Worsick Chambers, Newcastle
Shortlisted:
AXIS, Jesmond Three Sixty, Newcastle
Carter Bequest Primary Care Hospital, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough Central Library
Omniplex Sunderland
St George’s House, Team Valley Industrial Estate
Whitworth Hall Hotel, Spennymoor, Durham
Commercial Development of the Year
Winner: Pilgrim’s Quarter, Newcastle
Pilgrim’s Quarter integrates a substantial new-build commercial office with the retained Grade II listed façade of Carliol House, preserving an important historic asset while delivering modern, large scale workspace. As the largest HMRC regional hub in the UK, the scheme anchors long term public sector employment in Newcastle and acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration, making it the stand-out development according to the judges.
Shortlisted:
Almscliffe Dhesi, Sunderland
Blyth Market Pavilion
Aircraft Maintenance Zone, Teesside International Airport
Hillthorn Business Park, Sunderland
Housing Innovation & Construction Skills Academy, Sunderland
Merchant Park Unit 1, Aycliffe Business Park
Residential Development of the Year
Sponsored by PORCELANOSA
Winner: South Sunderland Growth Area
The South Sunderland Growth Area is a major residential development comprising four strategic sites spanning approximately 277 hectares. Over 1,500 homes have been completed and occupied, with strong and sustained demand across all sites, reflecting the attractiveness of the location and the quality of the housing offer. The judges noted that SSGA is delivering lasting environmental, social and economic benefits to the city.
Shortlisted:
Athol House, Ponteland
Hedwoths Green at Lambton Park, Chester-le-Street
Prospect Place, Newcastle
West Park Quarter, Sunderland
Wynyard Park, Stockton
Emerging Property Person of the Year
Sponsored by Teesworks
Winner: Kashaf Ali, Avison Young
As a senior quantity surveyor, Kashaf manages complex workflows and chairs project meetings with contractors, consultants and clients. He was heavily involved in the Pilgrim’s Quarter project on which he managed relationships with the contractor, design team and an extremely complex end-user team. The judges were impressed with Kashaf’s passion for his role, his belief in collective goals and his ability to bring people together.
Shortlisted:
Georgina Harvey, JohnsonHarvey
Neil Kohli, GFW
Property Deal of the Year
Sponsored by Swinburne Maddison
Winner: Atom Bank relocation to Newcastle
Atom relocated its HQ from Durham to Newcastle’s historic Pattern Shop, a multi-million-pound office investment and is one of the largest single-let office transactions in the city, bringing 600 jobs into the city centre, increasing footfall and strengthening the local economy. The judges also noted that the deal provides a stable, long-term income stream for Newcastle City Council, supporting public finances and future regeneration.
Shortlisted:
Investment in Phase 1 of Merchant Park, Aycliffe Business Park
Land acquisition for development, Peterlee, East Durham
Letting of Maker & Faber, Sunderland to Just Eat
Pre-let of Pilgrim Place 1, Newcastle to DWP
Sale of Kingston Village site, Newcastle
Property Personality of the Year
Sponsored by Together
Winner: Patrick Matheson, Knight Frank
For the past 23 years, Paddy has been an integral part of the Knight Frank team in Newcastle. Over that time, he has built an outstanding reputation as a highly accomplished and widely respected professional, overseeing the disposal and acquisition of a significant volume of office space across the region. His extensive experience in office agency and mixed-use development means his expertise is consistently sought after by developers looking for market-led advice on the design, scale, and viability of new development and refurbishment projects throughout the North East.
Future Ambition Award
Sponsored by Advance Northumberland
Winner: Crown Works Studio, Sunderland
Construction of phase one of the Crown Works Studio complex in Sunderland, which is set to be one of the biggest film studios in the North of England, could start this July after landing a more than £38m funding boost. At 125,000 sq ft, Crown Works will be capable of hosting live events and gameshows, as well as blockbuster films and TV projects.
Shortlist:
AirLink, Newcastle Airport
Gateshead Quays Arena, Gateshead
New Bridge Project, Newcastle
Northumberland Datacentre
The STEM Centre, Darlington
