A Dorset-based law firm joined commercial property agents and architects in savouring success at this year’s South Coast Property Awards.

Lester Aldridge was named Property Law Firm of the Year while Vail Williams and Goadsby, pictured right, shared joint honours for the Property Deal of the Year.

Collecting Lester Aldridge’s award,  Mark Benham, Partner and Head of Real Estate, said: “This win is a testament to the expertise and dedication of our property law team.

“We strive to provide our clients with the highest level of service, tailored solutions, and comprehensive support.

“I’m beyond proud that our commitment to excellence and our position as a leading law firm in the property sector has been recognised.”

The Property Deal of the Year centred on Lush’s expansion to A1 & A2 Fleets Corner in Poole.

Chase Clark, Lush’s Manufacturing Director, said: “Our expansion in Poole reaffirms our status in the local area.

“We are one of the biggest employers here and this development allows us to consolidate our property portfolio.

“It means we now have 60 per cent of our factory portfolio in the Fleets Corner estate, where we can build our manufacturing and also support current sales and our projected growth.

“We are always looking for property opportunities in the local area and have a great working relationship with Vail Williams and Goadsby.”

Other successes at the awards included HGP Architects winning the category for Regeneration Project of the Year with West Cliff Mansions in Bournemouth.

Chris Callard, Director, and Richard Abraham, Architectural Specialist at HGP Architects, said the project had stretched over four years and involved overcoming many challenges.

They added: “We had to deal with a negative response from neighbouring residents as we were building on what had been a car park that they didn’t want to lose.

“Many different designs were presented to overcome their concerns.

“The design is sympathetic to its surroundings and in keeping with the area.

“We also worked to improve safety and access to a school that was close to the development.

“Feedback from the occupants has been really positive.” 

Vail Williams received the award for Offices Consultancy of the Year and Russell Mogridge, a Partner in the firm, was presented with The Mark Vincent Lifetime Achievement Award.

Russell Mogridge.

He said: “This was a total surprise.

“Mark was a friend, so receiving this award was quite emotional for me.”

This year’s South Coast Property Awards were held at The Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

They were hosted by comedian, writer, presenter and actor Hal Cruttenden.

With his encouragement, guests generously donated more than £15,000 during the evening for Hannah’s Holiday Home, a charity that provides fun breaks for children with cancer and life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Further donations will come from a silent auction.

The awards were hosted by The Business Magazine – a sister brand to Dorset Biz News – and sponsored by AECOM, Biscoes Solicitors, Dutton Gregory Solicitors, Lester Aldridge, MSP Capital, Cobweb, Lloyds Bank, Lambert Smith Hampton, South Coast CPS, Highwood, CoStar and Graitec.