The Eric Wright Group’s One Cathedral Square development, which sits at the heart of the £30m Blackburn Cathedral Quarter, was awarded Best Commercial Property at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North West Awards on Friday.
The scheme is the result of a seven-year partnership between the Eric Wright Group’s development arm, Maple Grove, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackburn Cathedral and BDP Architects.
One Cathedral Square is the first Grade A office building to be built in Blackburn for more than 20 years. The six-storey commercial building and neighbouring 60-bed Premier Inn hotel are arranged around a new piazza-style public square and transport interchange.
The RICS judges praised the project team behind the office development for ensuring low running costs for tenants thanks to a number of green measures, including photovoltaic panels, which earned the scheme a BREEAM Excellent rating.
One Cathedral Square fought off stiff competition from a number of outstanding commercial developments across the region. Winners of the regional heats now move onto the RICS Awards Grand Final on November 2 in London and the chance to be crowned best in the UK.
Andrew Dewhurst at Maple Grove Developments, said: “One Cathedral Square was a true collaboration between all those involved and represents seven years of hard work. The project has transformed a main gateway into Blackburn and shows how public and private businesses can work together to deliver significant regeneration and benefits for local people.”
Executive member for Regeneration, Councillor Phil Riley, said: “One Cathedral Square has transformed perceptions on the commercial office market here in Blackburn. We’re attracting professional services businesses back into the town centre from out of town locations keen to locate into this prestigious address. The building, including two ground floor restaurant units, is now almost completely let and landmark events such as the first National Festival of Making earlier this month are now being been held in the new Square.”