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Since its inception in 2018, OxPropFest has developed an awards programme that is tailored to the Oxfordshire property market and reflects the wishes of our key stakeholders, which is to have a quality event that rivals ‘Grosvenor House London’ style awards but provides delegates (crucial point of difference) with an opportunity to network with colleagues. After all, being social is a key part of the property world.
OxPropFest will include a Walk in the afternoon of the 11th September and Awards programme in the evening at Keble College, following the same successful format as 2024.
If you’d like to become a sponsor or have questions about attending, we can be contacted on 0203 478 7340 or  info@ukpropertyforums.com
As in previous years we take the selection of judges and the judging process very seriously. Changes are made on a yearly basis to the panel and accountability expected from the judging process when selecting the winners and runners up.
A'Bear & Ball
Advanced Oxford
OxLEP
UK Property Forums
Adrian James Architects
Bidwells
UK Property Forums
Earth Trust
Savills
Paul Basham Associates
Carter Jonas
University of Oxford
Two projects have been included in the Walks programme, both projects have been shortlisted for Project of the Year and are conveniently located 5 minutes’ walk from each other. The winning project will be announced in the evening at the awards event, also to be hosted at Keble College Oxford.
Timings (Group A)
Timings for Group B will be the same but in reverse order.
Project Description
Our new college building features a Graduate Common Room, dining hall, library, games room, multi-faith room, cafeteria, snug (quiet space), and lecture room. In addition, a student bar and music room will open in 2024. The main dining hall, often a focal point of the college experience, is in a newly converted adjoining building that features vaulted ceilings and exposed timber typically be found in older, more traditional Oxford colleges. The “green oasis” provided by the University Parks almost next door to the College is perfect for students’ recreational activities.
Uniquely for an Oxford college, some of the building spaces are shared with the University’s Radcliffe Science Library, which is situated on the top floor of the Grade-II-listed Jackson and Worthington buildings. Students will benefit greatly from access to the specialist knowledge and expertise of library and museum staff located in the buildings, and digital resources to support teaching, learning and public engagement. A new Collections Teaching and Research Centre for the University’s museums is housed in the basement, giving our students access to the public engagement expertise of museum curators. With unique objects of antiquity from the University’s museums stored in its basement levels, Reuben College quite literally has the history of the world in its foundations, and the future of the world in its sights.
Additional Reading
https://reuben.ox.ac.uk/about-our-building-project
Guide
Christine Kwong, Managing Principle, fjcstudio + Colleagues
Project Description
New College was the site of the first planned quad in 1403, a model that has influenced educational institutions globally for over six hundred years. The leafy semi-suburban site offers the opportunity to reimagine the quad as a model for a learning community for the twenty-first century – departing from the quad’s closed origins and seeking a contemporary interpretation that enjoys a fluid and open relationship with the surrounding city and nature.
Alongside new student accommodation, the project also contains a student study space, music hall and new facilities for the adjacent New College School, a boys’ preparatory school. A tower and gatehouse complete the composition that Historic England has described as ‘one of the very few instances where contemporary design can be considered genuinely outstanding’.
Additional Reading
https://davidkohn.co.uk/projects/new-college
https://www.new.ox.ac.uk/gradel-quadrangles
Guide
David Kohn, Founding Director, David Kohn Architects + Colleagues
Please note this is an all-ticket event – registration is essential.Â
NB UK Prop Social Members: limited to two places per company. Non-members must purchase a ticket for the Walk.
Launched in 2018, OxPropFest is an annual Black Tie Dinner awards dinner held at Keble College in Oxford. The venue can seat 308 people for the dinner and we have been lucky enough to be sold out usually a few months each year. The cost of each ticket includes a reception drink upon arrival, three course meal, and of course access to the College Bar afterwards for ‘quality’ networking. We are confident that OxPropFest has become one of the largest property dinners outside London and has had many excellent reviews from attendees. We do hope that you can join us this year!
In the design and implementation of the awards, we will strive to reduce the carbon footprint of this event wherever possible. For example, the decision on the location of the venue is near public transport stations as possible in central Oxford, the use of digital ticketing in all aspects of event management which limits the use of paper, the provenance of the food served which comes where possible from Oxfordshire and finally the design of the awards, which are made of recycled and sustainable materials (bamboo). Please do come back to us with any other ideas as we are always open to suggestions.
Celebrating success is an important part of business life and the
giving of awards is a simple but effective way of saying – well done!Â
Since its inception in 2018, OxPropFest has developed an awards programme that is tailored to the Oxfordshire property market and reflects the wishes of our key stakeholders, which is to have a quality event that rivals ‘Grosvenor House London’ style awards but provides delegates (crucial point of difference) with an opportunity to network with colleagues. After all, being social is a key part of the property world.
Judges will aim to cut the list to a maximum of four companies for each award which ensures that attendees have a reasonable expectation on the evening of the awards. The Judges are ‘refreshed’ on an annual basis to ensure that there is a degree of change on the panel and that different views are heard. As a rule, we invite the Leader of the Year and NextGen winners to join the judging panel for OxPropFest on a three-year cycle. Finally, where conflict of interest occurs, Judges are removed from the judging process, and neutrality is preserved.
The Judges will be looking for submissions that cover the 12 months of 2023, however, they can cover a longer time frame if the project’s gestation period has been more than 12 months. Where possible, site visits from the Judges will take place and full Terms & Conditions are listed on the submission form.
CORE CRITERIA EXPECTED ON ALL SUBMISSIONS BY THE JUDGES
The full list of winners:
Deal of the Year (sponsored by Morgan Lovell)
Winner – Oxford United FC (new stadium development)
Highly Commended – ARC Harwell (UK Space Agency relocation)
Architect of the Year (sponsored by Milton Park)
Winner – TSH Architects
Joint Highly Commended – Adrian James Architects
Joint Highly Commended – FJC Studio
Contractor the Year (sponsored by Vail Williams)
Winner – Morgan Sindall Construction
Highly Commended – Beard
(Responsible) Employer/Team of the Year (sponsored by Blake Morgan)
Joint Winner – Kingerlee
Joint Winner – SRA Architects
Highly Commended – Ridge
Residential Development of the Year (sponsored by DevComms)
Winner – Bridges Cross, Oxford
Highly Commended – Tun House, Uffington
Commercial Project of the Year (sponsored by Freeths)
Winner – Begbroke Science Park, Begbroke
Highly Commended – ARC Oxford
Highly Commended – New England Biolabs, Milton Park
Low Carbon Project of the Year (sponsored by Bidwells)
Winner – Reuben College – University of Oxford, Oxford
Highly Commended – Tun House, Uffington
Project of the Year (sponsored by Mills & Reeve)
Winner – Rhodes House, Oxford
Highly Commended – Gradel Quadrangles at New College, Oxford
NextGen of the Year (sponsored by Oxford North)
Winner – Cecilia Badiale, Ridge
Highly Commended – Amy Evans, Penningtons Manches Cooper
Highly Commended – Tom Green, Ridge
MattBatt Award
Winner – Sultan Nazrin Shah, Worcester College, Oxford
This award was voted for on the night from a shortlist of previous winners of the Project of the Year Award.
Leader of the Year (sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction)
Winner – Richard Venables, CBRE
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The full list of winners:
Matt Batt Award
Debbie Dance, Oxford Preservation Society
Best Consultant Team sponsored by Milton Park
Winner – Ridge
Highly Commended – DevComms
Best Architect sponsored by ARC
Winner – Hawkins\Brown
Best Contractor sponsored by Oxford Technology Park
Winner – Kingerlee
Deal of the Year sponsored by Bicester Arc
Winner – Oxford Technology Park
Highly commended – VSL sale to CBRE
Best Commercial Project sponsored by Freeths
Winner – Swailes SuperLab, Oxford
Highly commended – IDRM, Oxford
Best Residential Development sponsored by DevComms
Large Scheme
Winner – Park View, Woodstock
Small Scheme (fewer than 10 units)
Winner – Zion’s Hill, Woodstock
Best Low Carbon Building sponsored by Bidwells
Winner – Wolfson College, Oxford
Highly commended – IDRM, Oxford
Project of the Year sponsored by Mills & Reeve
Winner – Cheng Yu Tung Building Jesus College, Oxford
Highly commended – The Dutch Barn, Botley
NextGen Award sponsored by Oxford North
Joint winner – Izzie Diment, Paul Basham Associates
Joint winner – Liv Thomas, Savills
The County Award
Moderna deal at ARC Harwell Campus
Team of the Year sponsored by OxLEP
OXPlace
Leader of the Year sponsored by Morgan Sindall
Harriet Waters, University of Oxford
Matt Batt Award
Olivia Lane-North, Spacecraft Consulting
Dave Beesley, The Oxford Furniture Company
Best Law Firm
Mills & Reeve
Best Property Advisor
VSL now CBRE
Best Planning Advisor
Edgars
Best Architect
Purcell UK
Best Contractor
Beard Construction
Best Residential Development (Small Scheme)
327 Woodstock Road, Oxford
Best Residential Development
Heyford Park, Bicester
Best Commercial Development
Bee House, Milton Park
Best Innovative Initiative of the Year
FarmED, Shipton-upon-Wychwood
Project of the Year
The Wing, Henley-on-Thames
Young Person of the Year
Rachel Woodman, Bidwells
Damon Ball, A’Bear+Bell Architects
Property Leader of the Year
Leader – Steven Sensecall, Carter Jonas
Team – OxLEP
Sponsored by:
About this award:
As the first award on the evening, this category will showcase a deal, transaction or agreement which has changed the course of your business during the past 12 months and would be seen as a barometer of success by your peers across Oxfordshire estate market. Submissions could come from the real estate, architectural and construction sectors and could cover a merger, acquisition, property sale or the winning of a major contract. All submissions should reflect the scope and depth of your successes in Oxfordshire, using references from clients and other supporting evidence to help provide support information for the Judges.
Shortlist:
New Stadium Development submitted Oxford United, Kidlington
UK Space Agency Relocation submitted by Harwell Campus
Sponsored by: 
About this award:
The need for quality architecture across Oxfordshire has never had such a high profile. Driven by client expectations and the rigours of the planning process, architects have had to absorb the many challenges thrown at them and produce buildings which not only respect the local vernacular, macth the expectations of the planners and of course, client approval. Judges will be looking for architects who can demonstrate a credible track record in the region over a period which will inevitably be spread over a period of years. Documentation needs to include information about the business and examples of past projects as evidence of success. Submitting companies do not have to have an office in Oxfordshire but the projects submitted do need to be located to be in the region.
Shortlist:
Adrian James Architects
Edgingtons Architects
FJC Studio
TSH Architects
Sponsored by:Â 
About this award:
Construction companies (submissions from New Build, Trad or D&B companies will be welcomed) are very busy across Oxfordshire delivering new houses, educational, commercial, industrial and retail projects. This award recognises all types and sizes of contractors with both large and small turnover working across the region. Judges will be looking for evidence of successfully completed projects over the past 12 months, positive feedback from clients/consultants and their supply chain partners. Attaching references from clients and other supporting evidence will always help the judges in their deliberations. Submitting companies do not have to have an office in Oxfordshire but the projects submitted do need to be in the county. Documentation needs to include information about the business and examples of past projects as evidence of success.
Shortlist:
Beard
Kingerlee
Morgan Sindall Construction
Sponsored by: 
About this award:
New for 2024, we would like to receive submissions from a Company / Consultant / Project Team that can demonstrate how successful it has been in the delivery of a successful responsible business strategy. Measurables could include how your business incorporates your approach to the innovation process, adoption of social responsibility, engagement in the local community, approach to the environment, governance or maybe feedback from clients or your supply chain on your approach to responsible business. The Judges will take into consideration all these criteria and decide on which company should be recognised by its peers as best in class.
Shortlist:
DevComms
Kingerlee
Lichfields
Ridge
SRA Architects
WWA
Sponsored by:Â Â 
About this award:
New housing is an important part of Oxfordshire vision. This award recognises a housing development (or developer) that manages to achieve the proverbial holy grail of matching the needs of the planners, the local community and help to fulfil the needs of Oxfordshire housing plans. Submissions need to showcase an approach to quality design, placemaking, sustainability, ESG agenda and use of materials. To be accepted, the project must have been completed or a phase completed over the past 12 months and could include designs for Garden Towns, Urban Villages. individual homes or small estates. In the past we have split this category into two, large (10 or more home developments) and small (individual and under 10 houses developments.
Note that in 2022 and 20203, the Judges split this category into two – large (10 or more home developments) and small (individual and under 10 houses developments.
Shortlist:
Tun House, Uffington
Bridges Cross, Oxford
Sponsored by:Â 
About this award:
Industrial, science, education and office development activity across the whole of Oxfordshire has been strong over the past 12 months. This award encourages submissions from developers, educational providers and investors who have been involved with new projects in these sectors and can demonstrate that the buildings have matched the client’s brief and are part of the Local Plan to generate new income for Oxfordshire. Attaching references from clients and other supporting evidence will always help the Judges in their deliberations.​
Shortlist:
Begbroke Science Park, Begbroke
ARC Oxford
New England Bio Labs, Milton Park
Sponsored by:Â Â 
About this award:
The drive towards zero carbon is now part of all project briefs in Oxfordshire. Reflecting the very real changes that are happening in our world, the built environment in Oxfordshire needs to reflect these pressures in the approach to new developments, design of buildings and the whole project process. Submissions need to showcase a clear strategy for the successful implementation of a zero-carbon strategy which can measurable the net benefits to the environment. This award could also be entered in one of the other categories such as Project of the Year and note from the Judges, they are sympathetic to the challenges of Zero Carbon in Legacy Cities such as Oxford when delivering Low Carbon solutions.
Shortlist:
Begbroke Science Park, Begbroke
Tun House, Uffington
Reuben College, Oxford
Sponsored by: 
About this award:
A special award for a special project. Entries for this award will showcase Oxfordshire’s finest buildings which answer the client’s brief and are not only inspirational for the users but the surrounding community. It can include new build projects as well as refurbishments that have been constructed to a high-level of finish, design and meet the many challenges when building in today’s environment. Entries can come from across all sectors including the office, educational, residential, retail and tourism sectors, which have all been past winners of this award. At the discretion of the judges, entries may also be submitted from other categories for this award.
Shortlist:
Blenheim Palace Orangery, Woodstock
Cothill School, Abingdon
Gradel Quadrangles at New College, Oxford
New England BioLabs, Milton Park
Reuben College, Oxford
Rhodes House, Oxford
St Cross College, Oxford
​Sponsored by: 
About this award:
A celebration of a person under 35 years of age, who has shown leadership and is an inspiration to others around them. Submissions need to demonstrate, not only how the individual has become an integral part of the business, but also how they have shown responsibility beyond their age. Examples of successful project delivery may include evidence of success from their ‘clients’ in the form of references and case studies. This could include graduates, apprentices and junior members of the team who have recently joined the company and at the discretion of the judges, a split in the category depending on the quality of the awards to reflect an award for recent graduates as well as more mature employees who have joined the business.
Shortlist:
Amy Evans, Penningtons Manches Cooper
Cecilia Badiale, Ridge
Tom Green, Ridge
Sponsored by: Â 
About this award:
Nominations are encouraged from across the property sector from individuals who have been integral to the success of the Oxfordshire property market over a period of time and have not just been a one-hit-wonder, so to speak. They must be able to demonstrate not only personal success in their business but also show evidence of helping to fulfill the goals and aspirations of their colleagues. When submitting a Leader for this award, we will be looking for abilities beyond the call of the normal working day, especially relevant over the past difficult 12 months.
For this award, a list of submissions will be generated to the Judges and the winner will be announced in the final presentation of the evening by the joint chair of the judges, Nigel Tipple and Matthew Battle.​
Sponsored by:Â TBC
An excellent opportunity to meet fellow guests, potential award winners with a welcome drink and start to feel the atmosphere for the awards evening at Keble College.
For the OxPropFest Awards, our moderator Dame Katherine Grainger will present the awards to the winning companies and individuals.
Carriages await as the event closes.
Book direct via their website for a single/double ensuite room.Â
Keble College
Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3PG
Website: Keble College
