Insider Media Limited

The property market is the "toughest I have ever seen", Stoford Developments chairman Chris Lea told the West Midlands Property Awards last night. Lea, who picked up the Property Personality of the Year prize, praised Stoford's ability to keep doing deals despite the challenging environment.

Stoford also scooped the Commercial Developer of the Year award, marking a successful year for both Lea and the business.

Lea has been working in the property industry for 35 years and said that "where there is a deal to be done Stoford will be there to complete it".

"I work with an incredible team now and am so proud of how the company is progressing. The first deal I completed was the sale of a small shed in the Black Country; to have achieved this level of success from that is amazing," he said.

Lea also predicted that the challenges faced by the industry are far from over.

He said: "Even though I have reached the end of my career with Stoford, I want to see the company continue in creating this niche market share that we have excelled in so far.

"I think there will be a continuing trend of office and industrial deals but the rest of the market will probably remain quite quiet."

The awards were held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, NEC Birmingham and attracted 500 professionals.

Winners and sponsors

Office Agency Team of the Year
Winner: CBRE
Sponsored by: Hollywood Monster

Industrial Agency Team of the Year
Winner: Jones Lang LaSalle
Sponsored by: Opus Land

Property Deal of the Year
Winner: Hines for the combined Snowhill and Brindleyplace deals
Sponsored by: Santander Corporate Banking

Regeneration Project of the Year
Winner: St Modwen for Longbridge
Sponsored by: Willmott Dixon

Project Management Team of the Year
Winner: Rider Levett Bucknall
Sponsored by: Overbury

Property Law Firm of the Year
Winner: Eversheds
Sponsored by: PSP

Residential Developer of the Year
Winner: Crest Nicholson
Sponsored by: Insider

Sustainability Award
Winner: Opus Land
Sponsored by: Drivers Jonas Deloitte

Commercial Developer of the Year
Winner: Stoford Developments
Sponsored by: Mace

Architects Practice of the Year
Winner: Siddell Gibson Architects
Sponsored by: Crest Nicholson

Construction Project of the Year
Winner: Willmott Dixon
Sponsored by: FBE West Midlands

Property Personality of the Year
Winner: Chris Lea, chairman of Stoford Developments
Sponsored by: Nikal