Michael Eyres Partnership has announced the Hitachi Rail Europe plant in Darlington has won RICS's 2018 Project of the Year for the North East.

The development beat over 55 of the North East's most impressive property schemes to secure top honours at the annual RICS Awards, North East.

The 'Project of the Year' title is presented to the scheme which demonstrates overall outstanding best practice and an exemplary commitment to adding value to its local area. Not only does the Hitachi Rail Europe Limited (HREL) plant facility build and deliver a new generation of high speed passenger trains, it also provides a significant import and export facility and has helped return train manufacturing back to the North East.


RICS judges praised the project team, describing it as an outstanding and remarkable facility that is acting as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area bringing much needed employment opportunities to the area, creating over 1,200 directly employed by HREL, whilst a further 8,000 jobs have been created within the supply chain.

As Employer's Agent, Quantity Surveyor and Principal Designer for the project, Michael Eyres Partnership LLP was employed by Merchant Place Developments and assumed full responsibility for delivery of the scheme.

Such has been the success of the facility for Hitachi, the company can confirm it has now been employed directly by HREL for the Phase II stage of the development.

This comprises a further 50,000ft² production facility, 300m of internal rail and staging for the QA department, plus a 30,000ft² temporary enclosure over the existing sidings.

www.michaeleyres.co.uk