Project of the Year (over £50m)

Belfast transport hub
Babcock International

Babcock were responsible for the railway systems integration for Belfast Transport Hub, which is the biggest railway interlocking outside of London in the last 20 years. This is a significant achievement for everyone involved in the project, especially for local people in their city Belfast. The existing service was maintained even during periods of disruption such as the 13-week blockade. The project was also commissioned on time, to budget and to client satisfaction. This demonstrates the hard work and camaraderie of the Babcock team who excelled and also improved their ability to deliver major projects on the island of Ireland.

Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA)
BAM Nutall and Mott MacDonald Joint Venture

The Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project perfectly balances the need for economic growth, climate resilience and the preservation of a delicate ecosystem. The 17km of modern flood defences along the Severn Estuary will protect local communities and businesses for generations to come from increased tidal surges exacerbated by rising sea levels. In doing so, it will support inward investment and the creation of new jobs in the West of England. Meanwhile, the creation of 135ha of new wetland habitats will preserve the estuary as an internationally important area for migratory birds, biodiversity and wildlife.

East West Rail Phase 2
East West Rail Alliance comprising AtkinsRéalis, Laing O’Rourke, Network Rail and VolkerRail

The mothballed East West Rail Oxford to Cambridge route is re-opening, linking economic hubs, communities and people with jobs and homes. Phase 2 (EWR2), connecting Bicester and Bletchley, was successfully delivered safely by East West Rail Alliance on-time and under budget and is the first rail project to achieve 10% biodiversity net gain. Creating a one-team culture, leveraging partners' expertise and innovations, embedding a transformative ‘Safety in Every Choice’ program and prioritising habitat preservation facilitated best-for-project decision-making. This enabled a safe, efficient, environmental and sustainable programme from the outset, workforce career development and delivered £3.5m of social value.

Gull Wing Bridge: Lowestoft's Third Crossing
Farrans Construction

Opened by The Princess Royal, Gull Wing is civil engineering at its most technically complex. An iconic structure which dominates the skyline, it was built for Suffolk County Council by Farrans and has given the town of Lowestoft freedom to attract investment with a road network where congestion has been greatly reduced. Gull Wing is the largest rolling bascule in the world to be raised using hydraulic cylinders, rising in 116 seconds and lowering in 106 seconds. The project team’s commitment to high-quality delivery ensured that each challenge encountered was resolved with innovation and a problem-solving mind set.

Belfast Grand Central Station
Farrans Sacyr Joint Venture

Farrans Sacyr JV delivered phase 1 of NI Executive’s Belfast Grand Central Station on budget and ahead of schedule. As Ireland’s largest integrated transport hub, it has advanced public transport in the city with the space to cater for up to 20M journeys per year, with 26 bus stands and 8 rail platforms. With 200+ spaces for bicycles, it encourages active travel and provides passengers with an enhanced user experience. This project represents excellence across culture, social impact, collaboration, quality, safety, and drive for excellence. The transformation of Belfast into a modern city has been driven by this landmark project.

Millers Quay
GRAHAM

Millers Quay sets a benchmark for its timely and budget-conscious delivery of the biggest development at Wirral Waters and the UK's largest brownfield regeneration project. This transformational residential development comprises 500 high-quality apartments, including 100 affordable homes, showcases significant innovation in health and safety, sustainability, and construction methods, significantly reducing risks and environmental impact.Additionally, Millers Quay generated substantial socio-economic benefits, including £31m SROI and extensive local investment, fostering strong community engagement and delivering positive lasting impact. This project will serve as a catalyst for future developments, both locally and nationally.

HMP Millsike
Kier with Ministry of Justice

HMP Millsike showcases the very best of UK construction. Completed on time and to budget in January 2025, the new prison is a trailblazer thanks to its sustainable design; pioneering MMC; exemplary Health & Safety; supply chain collaboration and exceptional community engagement. Its delivery model, which prioritises whole-life costs, embodied carbon, and social benefits, is standardised and repeatable across future custodial schemes. It is already being used by Kier for other prison projects and by other contractors as part of the Alliance 4 New Prisons, demonstrating how large-scale construction projects can leave a positive legacy by innovating for the future.

Clive Booth student accommodation
Morgan Sindall Construction

Achieving a 10/10 customer satisfaction rating and Perfect Delivery, the project stands as a benchmark for excellence in construction, teamwork, and sustainability. Our team's effective coordination with consultants and subcontractors, even amidst budget challenges, culminated in the successful and timely completion of four new student accommodation buildings.The project has had a profound effect on the community, with over £46m of the budget spent on local business; a total £178million was generated in SEV. The approach to sustainability was significant and through innovation and collaboration, we were able to save a further 192.4T of carbon throughout the project.

Begbroke science buildings
Oxford University Development

The Begbroke Science Buildings project exemplifies excellence in design, sustainability and community impact. Delivered on time and within budget, it features flexible, state-of-the-art spaces fostering innovation and collaboration. The project achieved BREEAM Excellent and PassivHaus standards, significantly reducing carbon emissions while integrating sustainable solutions like PV arrays and rainwater gardens.With a strong focus on local engagement, it generated nearly £6 million in social value largely overseen by contactor Mace Group, supported local employment, and contributed to the community. The project’s high-quality design, environmental responsibility, and positive social impact make it a deserving candidate for "Project of the Year".

Welcome Building®
Trammell Crow Company and Wates

Welcome Building® is a highly sustainable new workplace that sets a new bar for Bristol and the UK. It stands out from the rest, from the highest industry credentials to adopting innovation and harnessing technology to not only deliver the project in an exemplary way but also ensure it operates as such. It is a user-focused, wellbeing-led and inclusive scheme that is formed of low carbon materials, delivered through a collaboration approach that drives efficiency and operates as net zero. It represents the future of workplace, a new standard not just for the south west but the UK.

Stockport Interchange
Willmott Dixon, Transport for Greater Manchester, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Stockport MDC, Rise Homes, Cityheart, Renaissance, TACE, Ramboll, Gillespies, Leach Rhodes Walker, The Harris Partnership, WSP, BDP and Pagabo

Stockport has always been pioneering and ambitious. Stockport Interchange is a central tenet of both a £1 billion regeneration and Greater Manchester’s new integrated London-style transport system, the Bee Network.This new gateway to the region creates seamless connectivity for people using the West Coast Mainline and local/active transport services as well as new homes and two-acres of new public realm.The £140 project defines an ever-changing world. Procured and designed in Covid, built with sustainability and quality at its heart, evolved to meet the legacy of the Building Safety Act, and ultimately delivered on time and on budget.