NETWORK Rail's York Campus and a contemporary housing development in the heart of city triumphed over 43 of region's most impressive property schemes last night.

The 2015 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Pro Yorkshire Awards, held at the National Railway Museum, saw Network Rail's £35 million flagship building win the Commercial Property award, before scooping the overall Project of the Year title.

RICS judges said they were "highly impressed" and "captivated" by Network Rail’s new campus which comprises of a Rail Operating Centre – the largest of 12 UK centres and controls all rail operations on the East Coast Main Line from Kings Cross to the Scottish Borders, alongside a state-of-the-art Training Centre providing learning facilities for future generations to acquire the skills they need to work in the rail industry.

Last night's award also saw Bootham Green housing development win the Residential property award for its "sympathetic" conversion of a derelict former school to provide 24 modern town houses, as well as 14 contemporary new build homes.

RICS judges praised the project for providing "much needed family homes in a sustainable location which are not only attractive, but cost effective to run having been designed to meet Eco homes standards, with low energy lighting and improved insulation".

The awards were presented and hosted by television property personality Phil Spencer infront of an audience of more than 330 regional property professionals.

Commenting on National Rail’s Project of the Year win, chairman of the RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards judging panel Colin Harrop, said: "Network Rail needed working space that responded to the dynamic nature of signalling and control of the railway.

"To consolidate and enhance those working procedures within one facility meant the project team had to ensure the design provided a vital link from the control centre to the training facility containing the internal railway track for onsite training.

"I applaud the project team for delivering such an innovative and beneficial building. The efficiencies achieved from it will not only make training much easier to deliver for Network Rail, but it will also increase workplace and rail management productivity.

"The investment in new technology will contribute significantly to help create a sustainable, flexible and more efficient future rail network too."

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire the Scarborough Bathing Water Scheme won the Infrastructure award.

A number of other York developments were shortlisted in last night's award including the Judges Lodging in Lendal, the former Poads Building in Walmgate which has become the new offices of The Press, and the York Velodrome.

Mr Harrop added: "The standard of entries this year was phenomenal, so our panel had an extremely tough job selecting the shortlist, let alone the winners, which really are the best of the best.

"While the winners and those that have been highly commended range from small scale pioneering schemes, through to multi million pound developments, they all share an unwavering commitment and ability to add real value to the communities that they serve.

"This is a fantastic achievement and something which the teams behind the projects should be immensely proud of."