A tireless advocate for social housing and co-ownership has been named Personality of the Year at the 2024 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards in partnership with Openreach.

Nearly 700 people from the industry attended the glittering event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast on Friday.

Winners were announced across 21 categories, including the non-entry category of Property Personality of the Year, which honoured the contribution of David Little, chair of the Forum for Better Housing NI.

Mr Little is a former chair of Co-Ownership NI, and has contributed to the growth of many major housing associations here.

And in a new category of Regeneration Project of the Year, Rathbane Group won for its regeneration of Pearl Assurance House in Belfast city centre, a project praised by judges for showing “how heritage conservation and modern innovation can co-exist”.

Garret Kavanagh, director of broadband provider Openreach in NI, said “We’re delighted to partner once again with the Belfast Telegraph to deliver the Property Awards.

“The property sector is a hugely important partner for us and we’re delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of those involved in the sector.

“We’ve brought ultrafast full fibre broadband to over 86% of premises here, and we’re not stopping there.

“Having recently announced an additional £100m investment, we’re playing our part in helping Northern Ireland on its way to achieve 100% full fibre broadband coverage.”

Eoin Brannigan, editor in chief of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, said: “Congratulations to all the winners in the 2024 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards, the biggest event of its kind in Northern Ireland.

“We’re delighted to have honoured Property Personality of the Year winner David Little for his career in the industry, including his important contribution to co-ownership and to social housing.

“The Property Awards get bigger and more popular every year, but it wouldn’t be possible without the valued support of all our sponsors, including Openreach as our headline sponsor, so thank you.”

Sharon McClements, a senior lecturer in Built Environment at Ulster University and chair of the judging panel, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to chair the judging panel for these prestigious awards once again, working with an expert panel to recognise and celebrate the very best of the property sector.

“We had some very tough decisions to make with such a high calibre of entries, it was a joy to read all of the high-quality submissions across our vast property sector.

“We were delighted to be part of another successful event, in particular honouring David Little for his outstanding contributions to the industry. A huge congratulations to all of the very well deserving winners.”

Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2024 – full list of winners

Property Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by Barrett Group

WINNER: Hagan Homes

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Montgomery Finlay & Co

Regeneration Project of the Year sponsored by TSA Planning

WINNER: Rathbane Group – Pearl Assurance House

RUNNER UP: Hall Black Douglas Architects – Bank Buildings

HIGHLY COMMENDED: McGurk Architects Ltd – Newgate Arts and Culture Centre, Alskea Ltd – Admin House, Belvoir Park Hospital and Angus Properties Ltd – The Printworks

Fit Out of the Year sponsored by WH Stephens

WINNER: Like Architects Ltd– Crumlin Road Gaol Distillery

HIGHLY COMMENDED: McCue – The Ivy

Residential Development of the Year sponsored by Progressive Building Society

WINNER: Alskea Ltd – Oakfield Park

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lotus Homes – Edenbrook

Commercial Development of the Year sponsored by Carson McDowell

WINNER: Lacuna Developments – Nelson Place

HIGHLY COMMENDED: RPP Architects Ltd – Belfast Harbour Studios

Mixed-Use Development of the Year sponsored by Todd Architects

WINNER: Radius Housing – Creevagh Heights & Sean Dolan’s GAC Community Facilities

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lacuna Developments – Park Avenue

Property Management Company of the Year sponsored by Tenancy Deposit Scheme

WINNER: Gordon Estates Management Ltd

Property Deal of the Year sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt

WINNER: Martin Property Group

Climate Initiative of the Year sponsored by Like Architects

WINNER: Henderson Group Property

Young Architect of the Year sponsored by RTU

WINNER: Ciarán Vaudequin – Like Architects

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Roslyn Blackburn – Todd Architects, Holly Moag – RPP Architects and Joanne Connor – RPP Architects

Young Agent of the Year sponsored by Shoosmiths

WINNER: George Jolliffe – Lisney

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Molly Rose Ramsay – Templeton Robinson and Scott McGregor – Templeton Robinson

Property Legal Team of the Year sponsored by Radius Housing

WINNER: Eversheds Sutherland

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mills Selig and Wilson Nesbitt

Architectural Practice of the Year – Commercial sponsored by Mills Selig

WINNER: Collins Rolston

HIGHLY COMMENDED: 9yards Architecture

Architectural Practice of the Year – Residential sponsored by Mills Selig

WINNER: Farren Architects

HIGHLY COMMENDED: McCann Moore Architects and Collins Rolston

Commercial Estate Agency of the Year sponsored by A&L Goodbody

WINNER: McConnell Property Limited

HIGHLY COMMENDED: CPS

Residential Lettings Agency of the Year sponsored by Millar McCall Wylie

JOINT WINNERS: McMillan McClure and Pinkertons

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Ulster Property Sales, Fetherstons and John Minnis Estate Agents

Residential Estate Agency of the Year – Sole Branch sponsored by TLT

WINNER: Colin Graham Residential

RUNNER UP: McMillan McClure

HIGHLY COMMENDED: HMK Property

Residential Estate Agency of the Year – Multi Branch sponsored by TLT

WINNER: Fetherstons

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Pinkertons

Developer of the Year sponsored by MKB Law

WINNER: Alskea Ltd

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Fraser Millar and Lotus Homes

Young Property Professional of the Year sponsored by e.surv

WINNER: Harrison Ash – Hagan Homes

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Emma McNeill – John Minnis Estate Agents

Property Personality of the Year sponsored by Openreach

WINNER: David Little