RICS (Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors) has announced the winners of their inaugural RICS Social Impact Awards for the South East where the Stokes Centre for Urology in Guildford won the esteemed title of Project of the Year.
Over 60 construction projects, whose entries celebrate their role in transforming South East communities and the everyday lives of people, were shortlisted back in February.
The Stokes Centre for Urology in Guildford has seen the ‘The Prostate Project’ charity collaborate with the NHS to create a sector-leading new-build facility for treating prostate cancer patients.
Utilising £2m of community fundraising, this innovative partnership has enabled the new NHS facility to be built to a standard akin to a private facility. In doing so, the partnership has created a new blueprint for how the NHS and charities can collaborate to deliver world-class facilities and care for patients.
RICS Social Impact Awards Head Judge for South East, Henry Russell commented: “This project has a tremendous human and social impact. The centre treats prostate cancer patients in a newly built clinic. It consolidates specialist services and contains Europe’s largest theatre for brachytherapy, with a cure rate of over 90%. Referrals come from across the UK and internationally.
“The ‘Prostate Project’ charity provided £2.6 million towards the £5.5 million cost of the building after many years of fundraising in the local community. The partnership demonstrates how the NHS and charities can combine to provide first class care for patients.”
The awards were launched earlier this year to find the best examples in the UK of developments delivering the best economic, social or environmental improvements for their communities. Therefore, recognising the real estate industry’s vital role in society.
The South East category winners are:
- Commercial: Curious Brewery, Ashford
- Education: Stansfeld Centre for Innovation and Science, Headington
- Healthcare: Stokes Centre for Urology, Guildford
- Heritage: Margate Caves, Margate
- Infrastructure: Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls, Shoreham by Sea
- Land & Rural: The Gateway Project, Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester
- Leisure: The Great Hall, Canterbury
- Residential: Build It’s Self Build Education House, Bicester
Henry Russell continued: “The built environment is an integral part of the UK economy but also makes a positive impact on our everyday lives.
“In these challenging times, it is warming to reflect on these winning projects, and how they are not only a demonstration of the breadth of talent within the profession, but showcase how buildings can make towns and cities across the country more inclusive and deliver communities which people can be proud of.”
