BCSC hand out property industry Bafta at Town Centre Environment awards

I've just got back from a really lovely lunch (yes I know it is nearly 4:00!) at Bafta's plush HQ in Piccadilly.

There were lots of smiling faces from the local authorities as they were handed not the Bafta's trademark gold mask award, but the far more prestigious in their eyes,  BCSC's Town Centre Environment awards.

But there were less smiling faces from the retail property fraternity. Over drinks one lamented that three year rent free on a ten year lease is now being handed out as a norm, and worse is to come.

Jeremy Collins, head of retail development at John Lewis and BCSC's president (more from him soon with a podcast here shortly); and Ian Mearns, deputy leader of Gateshead council, handed out the awards with gold standards being awarded to:Liverpool council for Liverpool One , Leicester council for Leicester Highcross, and Merthyr Tidfil.

Full details of the winners can be found here. For pictures of the winners either click through on the "continue reading" link below or check out the Focus Flickr account