Belfast’s Grand Central Station has been named as UK Project Of The Year at the RICS Awards Grand Final. The station was named winner in the Infrastructure Award category, before going on to win the ultimate accolade of 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 celebrated the UK’s most inspirational built projects that are having a significant positive impact on the communities they serve.
Belfast’s Grand Central Station involved building an entirely new station, including 26 new bus stands, creating a new bus route with a bridge to carriageway connection, the construction of eight new rail lines and their connection to the existing network, and various public realm works in areas surrounding the station as it forms the centrepiece of the Weavers Cross development.
Commenting on the UK winning project, the judges said: “This ambitious infrastructure project demonstrated exemplary leadership, collaboration and stakeholder engagement throughout its delivery. The project team successfully balanced complex technical requirements, budget pressures and programme challenges while maintaining a clear focus on achieving lasting benefits for Belfast and Northern Ireland.
“Strong partnerships across the public and private sectors enabled innovative solutions and effective decision making, ensuring successful project outcomes.
“The team’s commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, social value and skills development was exemplary through local cross community engagement, education outreach and support for emerging professionals.
“Creating a modern integrated transport hub that transforms connectivity and supports future regeneration as a positive focal point within the city. It is a remarkable achievement worthy of recognition.”
It won ahead of an impressive list of categories winners including Canolfan Pentre Awel, a pioneering wellbeing hub in Llanelli in Wales, St Bart’s North Wing in London which saw the transformation of the Grade I listed wing open as a heritage and wellbeing destination in Britain’s oldest working hospital and a training college in Sunderland which is part retrofit of an existing 130-year-old railway engine shed and part new build.
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.