52 award-winning schemes show what a valuable environmental contribution good housing landscape can make
The 2003 greenleaf housing awards have been presented to house building companies at a ceremony held at the Daily Mail offices in Kensington. The prestigious Hanson Award for the finest greenleaf example of the year went to Beechcroft Developments for Allcourt, a retirement scheme in a picturesque Gloucestershire market town. In fact, the judges said that they would love to live there.
The greenleaf awards recognise the importance house builders place on the creation of whole living environments - and not just the building of new homes. The judges consider the use of green space, retention of natural features including trees, hedges, ponds and streams and efforts to create a new landscape. Schemes do not become eligible for an award until three years after they have been sold to ensure that the developers initial efforts are not simply cosmetic. The awards are organised by the New Homes Marketing Board in partnership with the Daily Mail and the main sponsor, Hanson.
116 developments were originally submitted by house builders for an award. Of these, 77 progressed through the initial paper-judging phase, and following a personal visit by a greenleaf judge 52 of these developments received an award at the ceremony.
The 2003 best in class scheme is at Lechlade on Thames. Allcourts location in a picturesque Cotswold market town brings advantages, of course, but it also poses the enormous challenge of creating a housing environment that complements the sensitive surroundings, says Chris Baines, environmental writer and broadcaster, who chairs the greenleaf judging panel.
There can be little doubt that this scheme makes a positive contribution to Lechlade. It provides modern homes for older members of the community, within walking distance of the high street, and the centrepiece of the scheme is an open space that must bring delight to residents and neighbours alike.
In addition to the Hanson Award, a further six special category awards were presented by respected organisations, and there were 10 geographical award winners.
Langley Park in Beckenham, Kent, by Laing Homes South East Thames picked up two of the special awards from Design for Homes and English Partnerships. Another double winner was Hilton Grange, near Leeds, by Redrow Homes, which won the National Urban Forestry Unit award and was voted best scheme in the Yorkshire region. As well as winning the overall Hanson award, Allcourt was awarded the Help the Aged prize for best retirement housing scheme.
Full details of the special awards and geographical awards winners are contained in the editors notes below.
Housing landscapes play a vital role in the delivery of sustainable development and at last this is being recognised, Chris Baines added. After almost 20 years, the core values of the greenleaf awards are being acknowledged in the Governments liveability agenda.
The New Homes Marketing Board showed great vision in establishing greenleaf so many years before sustainable development was fashionable and the long established partnership with leading environmental organisations makes these awards absolutely unique. This years winners show, yet again, just what a valuable environmental contribution good housing landscape can make and how it can improve the quality of life for every one of us. With increasing interest in sustainability from the Government and the house-buying public, there has never been a better time for greenleaf to provide real inspiration for the wider industry, Chris Baines concludes.
Ends
Notes for editors:
Launched in 1987 by the New Homes Marketing Board, the greenleaf housing awards celebrate the very best new housing landscapes each year, and have helped improve standards in the housebuilding industry.
Further information about the greenleaf awards:
Zoe Barnes, the New Homes Marketing Board.
Tel: 0207 960 1612
Email zoe.barnes@hbf.co.uk.
The 2003 greenleaf award winners:
The Special Award Winners:
The Hanson Award (best overall scheme)
& Help the Aged Award
Allcourt
Lechlade-on-Thames
Gloucestershire
Beechcroft Developments
English Partnerships Award
&
Design for Homes Award
Langley Park
Beckenham
Kent
Laing Homes South East Thames
National Urban Forestry Unit Award
Hilton Grange
Bramhope
Leeds
Redrow Homes Yorkshire
Tree Council Award
Holly Royde
Manchester
David Wilson Homes
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Award
Park Farm
Frampton Cotterell
Bristol
Barratt Bristol
The geographical award winners:-
EASTERN
Summerfields, Stanway, Colchester by Barratt Eastern Counties
LONDON
Elder Gardens, Spitalfields, London by St George North London
MIDLANDS
Dickens Heath, Solihull, Birmingham by Redrow Homes Midlands
NORTH EAST
The Woodlands Estate, Darlington by Bussey & Armstrong
NORTH WEST
Manor Park, Great Sutton, Cheshire by Redrow Homes North West
SCOTLAND
Lambs Nursery, Eskbank, Dalkeith, Midlothian by Redrow Homes Scotland
SOUTHERN
Longwater Green, Finchampstead, Berkshire by Charles Church
SOUTH WEST
St Lukes Court, Marlborough, Wiltshire by English Courtyard
WALES
Trem-y-Coed, Sketty, Swansea by Bovis Homes
YORKSHIRE
Hilton Grange, Bramhope, Leeds by Redrow Homes Yorkshire
Other schemes receiving an award in 2003:
Arundell Place, Truro, Cornwall by Rosemullion Homes
Britannia Quay, Chatham, Kent by Redrow Homes Eastern
Bywaters, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire by Barratt Southern Counties
Church Gate Gardens, Swindon , Wiltshire by Bellwinch Homes
Cwrt Bryn Coed, Colwyn Bay, North Wales by McCarthy & Stone
Dale View, Addingham, West Yorkshire by Redrow Homes Yorkshire
Eastfield Park, West Derby, Liverpool by Redrow Homes North West
Fairview Manor, Rochdale, Lancashire by Redrow Homes Lancashire
Fairways, Wakefield, Yorkshire by Barratt Leeds
Grange Park, Bushey, Hertfordshire by Barratt North London
Glan Rhiw, Oakdale, Gwent by Redrow Homes South Wales
Hawthorne Rise, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire by David Wilson Homes
Hudson Court, Hessle, East Riding by McCarthy & Stone
Kensington Park, Kensington High Street, London by Barratt East London
Kings Mansions, Beckenham, Kent by Barratt South London
Leigh Park, Westbury, Wiltshire by Persimmon Homes Wessex
Lockes Wharf, Isle of Dogs, London by St George North London
Locksley Grange, Torquay, Devon by Midas Homes
Manor Fields, Rawcliffe, York by Barratt York
Manor Grange, Burton upon Trent by William Davis Homes
Millers Croft, Sutton in Craven, West Yorkshire by Barratt Leeds
Montpellier Park, Killermont, Glasgow by Barratt West Scotland
Mount Pleasant, Framlingham, Suffolk by Persimmon Homes Essex
Mulberry Close, Watford , Hertfordshire by City & Country Residential
Park Gates, Haywards Heath, West Sussex by Barratt Southern Counties
Prince Regents Gate, London NW1 by Barratt West London
Princes Gate, Southend by Barratt Eastern Counties
Regent Court, Pinner by Barratt North London
Regent Court, Basingstoke, Hampshire by Barratt Southern Counties
Riverside, Stone, Staffordshire by David Wilson Homes
Rogersmead, Tenterden, Kent by Bovis Homes
Sonora Fields, Sittingbourne, Kent by Redrow Homes Eastern
Summerfields, Chester-le-Street, County Durham by Barratt Newcastle
The Beeches, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire by Stewart Milne Homes (North)
The Birches, Meols, Wirral by Redrow Homes North West
Whitbarrow Grove, Levens, nr Kendal by Russell Armer
Whittle Hall Farm, Chorley, Lancashire by Redrow Homes Lancashire
Woodcot Manor, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire by Barratt Construction
Photos:
Photographs of the special awards winning schemes are available from Nick Rawlings, nrawlings@stennik.com or 01379 650112
Marketing CD:
A CD containing an electronic version of this press release and various graphics/photographs is also available from Nick Rawlings