James Whittaker named Property Week personality of year

Peel director James Whittaker took home the top prize of personality of the year at the Property Week North West awards.

The prize was recognition not only for Whittaker's work at Peel, the family business headed by his father John, but also for his heroic swim along the Manchester Ship Canal for charity in September 2008. The 36-mile swim over two days raised £250,000 for the New Children's Hospital Appeal in Manchester.

The award was one of 17 handed out at a dinner held at the Sheridan Suite – formerly the Sharp factory – in North Manchester. Over 600 property professionals gathered to celebrate the best of the North West property industry during the last 12 challenging months.

Grosvenor took away two awards for its Liverpool One scheme. CB Richard Ellis and Cushman & Wakefield also won two gongs apiece in agency categories.

The winners in full were as follows:

Developer of the Year

• Grosvenor

Occupier of the Year

• Bank of New York Mellon

Deal of the Year

• Argent and Greater Manchester Property Fund

Up & Coming Property Firm

• Nikal

Commercial Development of the Year

• 3 Hardman Street, Manchester, Allied London

Mixed-Use Development of the Year

• Liverpool One, Grosvenor

Consultant of the Year

• Davis Langdon

Best Design-Led Project

• MediaCityUK, Manchester, Peel

Funding Partner of the Year

• The Co-operative Bank

Regeneration Development of the Year

• Mann Island, Liverpool, Neptune Developments and Countryside Properties

Newcomer of the Year

• Michael Parker, Liverpool Vision

Property Personality of the Year

• James Whittaker, Peel

The Green Award

• Manchester City Council

Office Agency Team

• Cushman & Wakefield

Retail/Leisure Agency Team

• Cushman & Wakefield

Investment Agency Team

• CB Richard Ellis
• WHR – Highly Commended

Industrial Agency Team

• CB Richard Ellis

Sponsors: Abbey and Alliance & Leicester; Bank of Ireland; BDP; CNP; Completely Retail; The Co-operative Bank; Drivers Jonas; First Investments Ltd; Halliwells; Hill Dickinson; MADL; MCR; MIDAS; Meredith Thomas; PAPR; Property Requirements; Savills; Squeeze.