A WORCESTER-based healthcare property developer Prime is hoping to scoop two awards at this year’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors West Midlands Awards.

Prime, based in Wildwood Drive, was the investment and development partner on the £13.5m Belong Care Village in Newcastle-under-Lyme scheme, working with not-for-profit care operator Belong.

Completed in April last year, the care village provides a mix of specialist care services, apartments for independent living and community facilities on a site in Newcastle-under-Lyme which had been derelict for more than 10 years.

At the heart of the development stands a Grade II listed building and former nightclub, which was transformed as part of the project into a resource centre for people living with dementia and an inviting place for the community to celebrate its heritage.

The scheme has been shortlisted in the awards' Regeneration category, which celebrates projects which have made exceptional improvements in the local area and the Community Benefit category, which recognises projects that engage the community and improve public access to facilities.

Prime development director, Bob Smaylen said: “We are delighted that the Belong Care Village has been shortlisted for two RICS awards.

"It was a challenging project for the development team here but the end result has exceeded all our expectations, not only transforming a forgotten area of Newcastle-under-Lyme, but also instilling great pride in the community.

“We’ll be in attendance on the night and will be hoping to secure both awards for this very worthy project.”

The RICS Awards recognise the most innovative projects in the region and their impact on local communities.

Judging takes place in February, and Prime will find out if the scheme has won in May at a special awards dinner and ceremony at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.