The inaugural winners of the Sustainable New Homes Awards have been announced in a ceremony in London. Both Greenwich Millennium Village, London and Childwall Neighbourhood, Liverpool won the award presented by celebrity writer and presenter of Channel Four’s Grand Designs, Kevin McCloud.
Nine developments made it through to the second stage of judging and a unanimous decision was made that both developments should win the award.
The awards were launched in October 2003 by The House Builders Federation and WWF – the global environmental network - with the aim of encouraging sustainable housing.
Criteria for the award included:
§ Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy
§ Ecological value of the land – how development has protected and/or enhanced biodiversity
§ Minimisation of waste – resulting from both construction and the lifestyles of residents
§ Water efficiency and recycling, sustainable urban drainage
§ Airbourne pollution levels and use of toxic chemicals
Developments that met the criteria have been awarded a “sustainability standard” and will be able to fly a flag on the site and to use the standard logo in all marketing material relating to the site.
Zoë Barnes, HBF marketing manager, said: “Interest has been extremely high in this first year of the awards. Sustainability is a key issue for the house building industry and is fast becoming a key consideration for many buyers when deciding which house to buy.
“We want to encourage more house builders to be involved in sustainability and be rewarded for their efforts as Greenwich Millennium Village Ltd and The Liverpool Housing Action Trust have.”
Paul King, Director of WWF's One Million Sustainable Homes campaign said: "It's great to see more examples of homes which are a pleasure to live in and gentle on the environment entering the mainstream of housing in the UK."
Details for next year’s awards will be available in the next few months.
Ends
Editor's notes
Winning Developments
Greenwich Millennium Village, London submitted by Greenwich Millennium Village Ltd.
Contact – Niki Turner – 020 8853 7040
Childwall Neighbourhood, Liverpool submitted by Liverpool Housing Action Trust
Contact – Roger Howes – 0151 224 6973
Developments shortlisted for the awards were: -
Developer Development
Barley House Developments Tranquillity – Cotswolds
CDS Housing Association Pinehurst, Liverpool
Countryside Maritime Ltd Northshore & Victory Mews, Kent
ECD Architects Coopers End Estate, London
Gallions Housing Association Gallions Ecopark, Thamesmead
Gusto Construction Ltd Solar Rise
Living Villages Ltd The Wintles, South Shropshire
Confirmed list of judges for the awards:
Kevin McCloud, Grand Design
Jenny Wain– Sustainable Homes
Paul King – WWF
Dave Baker – HBF
Nick James – BioRegional
John Weir – Haute Future
Robert White – ERM
HBF
HBF is the principal trade federation for private sector house builders and voice of the house building industry in England and Wales. Information regarding the awards can be found at www.greenleafawards.co.uk
Kevin McCloud
Kevin McCloud has written and presented all three series of Grand Designs, plus one of Grand Designs Indoors. When not filming, Kevin runs a product design practice, now specialising in lighting and furniture. He has designed lighting for some of the finest buildings in Europe and many great houses – Ely Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, two European palaces, the Savoy and Dorchester hotels, to name a few.
WWF
WWF is now known simply by its initials and the panda logo, in line with the whole international network. WWF, the global environment network, takes action to conserve endangered species, protect endangered spaces and address global threats, by seeking long term solutions.
Photos:-
Photography of Kevin McCloud presenting the awards are available by email from Zoë Barnes, zoe.barnes@hbf.co.uk or call 07802 336790.