The £1.6m, 11-home Gilling West development was named Best Social or Affordable Housing Development of the Year for the North and East Yorkshire region in the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards.
The empty, flood-hit sheltered housing scheme in the centre of the village was transformed it into a new, modern, energy-efficient affordable housing development for Broadacres Housing Association.
This was possible by raising the development half a metre above where the original complex sat to avoid any flooding issues. This involved installing concrete ‘pile’ foundations that went in 14 metres underground effectively acting as stilts. Other innovations included installing air source heating at each property. The village does not have a gas connection so heating oil is used and this can be expensive, especially during fluctuations in oil price.
In the same month, the £1.2m refurbishment of Tom Collins House in Byker for Byker Community Housing Trust also picked up the Preservation & Rejuvenation award at the Constructing Excellence North East Awards.
The judges were particularly impressed with the robust conservation philosophy applied to winning the refurbishment of the 39-bed sheltered housing scheme for the over 55s.
They also noted the meticulous efforts of the client alongside the design and contracting team to ensure that the original design ethos and accuracy of original material specification were not comprised, while at the same time ensuring modern safety features were included in the Grade II-listed building.
We’re delighted to have won such a prestigious award which recognises schemes that showcase innovative, smart and creative building solutions. Working with our partners we created an amazing development which met the demand for new affordable family homes in a popular village.”
