The UK’s most outstanding recent building projects went head-to-head for top national accolades at the RICS Awards Grand Final where Canolfan Pentre Awel was named Community Benefit Project of the Year.
The prestigious event, hosted by Tom Dyckhoff, writer, historian, teacher and broadcaster of cities, architecture, geographies and visual culture, and held at the Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge on Thursday 22nd October celebrates the UK’s most inspirational built projects that are having a significant positive impact on the communities they serve.
This project covers the design and construction of a 20,000m2 building (Canolfan) and associated landscaping, public realm and transport infrastructure.
This is the first phase of the Pentre Awel initiative in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, forming a key project within the Swansea Bay City Deal portfolio and is designed to support people to lead active and healthier lives for longer.
Canolfan is home to a unique leisure offer, and community health care services, together with business and education opportunities.
Canolfan is a Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) led development in partnership with HDdUHB, Cardiff University, Swansea University, University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Coleg Sir Gâr.
Commenting on the winning project, the judges said: “This project represents a bold and significant investment by The County Council in the health and wellbeing of residents of Llanelli and the surrounding areas. The scale of the project coupled with careful design has resulted in a complex providing a wide range of high-quality leisure facilities together with a variety of spaces including a substantial health facility, various areas for community uses and businesses, with the emphasis on start-ups and growth. Altogether this is a most impressive and successful development in a deprived area of Wales.”
The full list of winning projects at the UK Grand Final are:
- Belfast Grand Central Station – Project of the Year and Infrastructure Award
- No.1 St Michael’s, Manchester – Commercial Development project
- Canolfan Pentre Awel, Llanelli – Community Benefit project
- Farnborough Road, Clifton – Refurbishment/Revitalisation project
- HICSA – Housing Innovation & Construction Skills Academy – Public Sector project
- Severn View Park Care Home – Residential Development project
- Tesco Harrogate: Low Carbon Concept Store – Environmental Impact Award
- St Bart’s North Wing, London – Heritage project
- Calverleigh Wetlands, Devon – Land Management & Sustainable Development Award
- Lyndsey Milburn MRICS – Ambassador of the Year
- Sean Keyes – Lifetime Achievement Award
- Watsons Property Ltd – Outstanding Contribution to Surveying by a large firm
- b&m Construction Consultants – Outstanding Contribution to Surveying by an SME
There were also projects that were highly commended: Norton Folgate, London in Commercial Development project category, HARP – Heritage Asset Repair Programme, Southampton in the Heritage project category, The Savoy, Bangor in the Residential Development project category, Currie Community High School in the Public Sector project category, Avery & Co Chartered Surveyors and Valuers in the Outstanding Contribution to Surveying by an SME category and both Barnsley Street Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre and Blyth Market Pavilion were highly commended in the Community Benefit project category
Commenting on the awards, UK National Awards Chair, Kerry Gibbs FRICS, said: “It was an honour to judge these awards again, visiting these projects and seeing the profound impact that they’re having on their communities.
“Year on year we see such impressive teams and projects represented in these awards and 2026 was no different. Surveyors play such an important role in our built environment, and events like these awards are so important in recognising the hard work and dedication behind these projects. Congratulations to all of the winners, RICS is extremely proud to celebrate all of your exceptional achievements.”
This year’s awards have been sponsored by RIMKUS, IKO and Woolpert.
For further information on the RICS UK Awards please visit the RICS website.
