The Bakery, Belfast wins the RICS award for the best commercial property development.

The Bakery, Belfast wins the RICS award for the best commercial property development.

The Bakery is a 19th Century landmark Victorian 6-storey building sensitively converted to 156 prestige apartments with ground floor car parking and retail units below. Existing facades and features were retained and restored, including the famous wrought iron clock. Integration of the former bakery buildings and new build insertions was undertaken respectfully, with the design utilising as much of the existing structure as possible to retain the character and integrity of the building.

The judges said

This mixed use refurbishment scheme in the inner suburbs of South Belfast has breathed new life into the landmark premises of the former Ormeau Bakery and has retained most of the external facade. Despite being completed after the recent property crash, all of the upper floor apartments have been sold and the commercial units are substantially let, and it is a rare example of a successful commercial development in this age of relative austerity.

Owner: Kilmaine Properties Ltd
Surveyor: Mulcahy McDonagh & Partners Ltd
Architect: RPP Architects Ltd
Developer/contractor: Kilmaine Properties & Graham Construction