Hundreds of the province’s property professionals attended the 2008 Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Property Awards at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast last night.

The glittering black-tie bash, which is sponsored by Ulster Bank, attracted 500 people from the property, legal and financial sectors and is now recognised as the most important date in the local property calendar.

And the most keenly anticipated accolade of the night, Property Professional of the Year 2008, went to Chris Carvill, managing director of The Carvill Group.

A unanimous vote from the judging panel meant Chris lifted the top gong for his work during one of the most challenging years for the local housing market.

Chairman of the judging panel, leading economist John Simpson, praised Chris for his positive leadership, reputation for innovation and for being pro-active to new ideas and technologies in the industry.

He said: “Chris takes inspiration from examples of best practice around the world. Not only does he offer positive leadership in his own family business, he does not stint in his involvement on behalf of the industry and recently served on the team with Sir John Semple on housing problems, with special reference to affordable housing.”

Chris, who has a degree in building studies from the University of Ulster, has worked his way up to his current post as managing director in the family firm. He is an experienced construction professional with more than 20 years experience, mainly in residential construction and is committed to sustainability and low carbon design.

Companies from both the residential and commercial property sectors were recognised including BTWShiells, Halifax Estate Agent, Cusp, Multi Developments, Victoria Square, Alburn, William Ewart Properties and the Carvill Group.

One of the first awards of the evening went to Alana Simpson from Osborne King who was named Young Property Agent of the Year.

BTWShiells scooped both Commercial Property Agency of the Year as well as Commercial Letting/Management Agency of the Year while Halifax Estate Agents took the top honours as Residential Property Agency of the Year.

The contribution of the property sector to progress in Northern Ireland during recent years will go down in history

In the build categories urban regeneration specialists Cusp won Commercial Property Developer of the Year and the Carvill Group was named Residential Property Developer of the Year.

Flagship scheme Victoria Square won the Property Development of the Year trophy while Riverside Mill in Antrim and eco-village Woodbrook in Lisburn were joint winners of Residential Property Development of the Year.

Meanwhile, the £100m Victoria Place Shopping Centre in London, acquired by William Ewart Properties, was this year’s investment Deal of the Year.

Henry Elvin, Ulster Bank head of business banking, said: “The contribution of the property sector to progress in Northern Ireland during recent years will go down in history and we are extremely proud of our role in this. It is clear that amidst significant change that has taken place in the industry one thing that hasn’t changed is the innovations and enterprise strongly evident in the entries to the Northern Ireland Property Awards.

“All of the winners and entrants deserve the highest praise and maximum credit for their continued good work in the face of highly challenging conditions,” he added.

Chaired by John Simpson, the independent panel of judges for the Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Property Awards were property consultant Alistair Dunn, Denis Myle, formerly of Myles Danker, planning consultant Bill Morrison, John Armstrong of Construction Employers Federation, John Davidson, RICS, Kevin Milhench, formerly of Lambert Smith Hampton, Richard Ennis, Ulster Bank and Professor Alastair Adair, University of Ulster.