The Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Property Awards in association with Ulster Bank are today launched for 2008.

The Awards, now in their third year, will recognise excellence within both the residential and commercial property sectors.

Leading Ulster economist John Simpson will once again chair the panel of judges who are Richard Ennis, John Armstrong, Professor Alastair Adair, Alistair Dunn, Denis Myles, Kevin

Milhench, Bill Morrison and John Davidson.

The awards will consist of 10 categories including the non-entry category, Property Personality of the Year which was awarded last year to Eric Cairns. Other categories this year recognise excellence in commercial investment, commercial letting/ management, residential and commercial developers and developments, residential agencies and young property agents.

The Belfast Telegraph’s Commercial Director Simon Mann said, “We are delighted to launch the 2008 Northern Ireland Property Awards and warmly welcome Ulster Bank back on-board as title sponsor. Of course, we appreciate that this year has been a challenging one for the property market but firmly believe that excellent work, outstanding schemes and important deals should be recognised and celebrated.”

This year’s category sponsors are Arthur Cox, Cleaver Fulton Rankin, Ulster Bank House Mortgages, Carson McDowell, Millar McCall Wylie, L’Estrange & Brett, John McKee & Son Solicitors, KPMG and A&L Goodbody.