Caroline Simpson, deputy chief executive, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and Director of Place, scooped the coveted Property Personality of the Year Award at Insider’s 2021 North-West Property Awards.
The property awards, fittingly held at the impressive, 140-year-old former Manchester Central station complex, recognise the best people, deals and developments from the region’s commercial property sector.
The sponsors of the 15 hotly contested categories included Ardmac, CBRE, Irwin Mitchell, Orbit Developments and the Property Alliance Group who presented the Game-Changer award to Ged Couser, BDP.
Sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, the Property Personality of the Year award was presented to Caroline who has helped to raise the profile of Stockport as she leads a determined team through a £1billion programme of investment. The award-winning Stockport Exchange business quarter has attracted new businesses into the town centre where Grade A office schemes appealed to new tenants and let ahead of completion. With multiple schemes underway, Q1 in 2022 will see a further £400m of development underway in Stockport town centre alone, including a new transport interchange housing a 2-acre park and 198 town centre apartments.
Caroline commented:
“I am delighted to have won this award, but I am accepting it on behalf of the partners and colleagues that make up ‘Team Stockport’. I am very proud to say that with strong political backing Stockport Council is showing confidence in the town by investing directly in regeneration and working with developers and investors to share risk and take a long-term view. Council owned Holiday Inn Express is one of IHG’s most successful hotels and is just one of a number of projects that shows that confidence and initial backing can be rewarding for the whole town and its residents.
“As a result of our collaborative practices, Stockport is witnessing private investor confidence and an innovative approach to town centre living, such as is apparent in the now fully occupied Mailbox development. The former Royal Mail sorting office is now home to 117 stunning apartments.”
A full list of award winners can be found at Insider
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