COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (165) issued by The Government News Network
on 4 July 2008
Upside down houses
in Salford and light weight homes in Milton Keynes are just two of
the winning designs recognised for providing high quality homes
that will last, at this year's Housing Design Awards.
Now in its Diamond Jubilee, the awards demonstrate how strong
designs can successfully reinvigorate and regenerate
neighbourhoods and provide high quality homes to the highest
environmental standards.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint said:
"These awards show the incredible results that can be
achieved when strong partnerships are formed between local
communities, planners, architects and developers.
"The winners are testament to the creativity in the industry
and demonstrate the possibilities for designing sustainable, low
carbon housing that will last the test of time."
This year's winner, Chimney Pot Park in Salford, shows how
outstanding design was used to refurbish hundreds of terraced
homes using the innovative concept of moving the living
accommodation to the top floor of the houses. The scheme is
completely regenerating this part of Salford.
Communities and Local Government are lead sponsors of the awards
in partnership with the National House Building Council, the Royal
Institute of British Architects, the Royal Town Planning
Institute, the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and CABE.
Judging was carried out by a committee of representatives from
both the sponsors and supporters. Judges viewed designs in
relation to their surroundings, constraints of site, layout and
landscaping, planning of roads and pathways, attention to safety,
security and accessibility, design of garages and car parking,
sustainability, workmanship, and external appearance and internal planning.
Overall Winner - Chimney Pot Park, Langworthy, Salford
Four hundred two-up two-downs in the Salford Housing Market
Renewal area were transformed when Urban Splash, began
refurbishing 347 properties in a new version of back-to-back
blocks. The brickwork facade has been retained, the layout
switched so bedrooms are on the ground floor and living
accommodation on the first floor, and the back alley transformed
into first floor terraced gardens with parking beneath.
The architects Shed KM designed a scheme that will contain a mix
of open market housing and homes available through English
Partnership's First Time Buyers Initiative. Phase one is
already occupied.
The 1960's opening credits of the ITV show Coronation Street
were filmed in these streets.
Large Housebuilder Winner - Oxley Woods, Milton Keynes
This scheme of 78 homes brings together the country's
largest housebuilder, Taylor Wimpey, and leading architectural
firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the firm of leading
international architect Richard Rogers.
The development contains 30% affordable housing, and is being
constructed using light weight closed timber-frame panels that are
built on site in the back of an articulated lorry. The development
has a strong focus on waste and cost reduction.
Energy efficiency is helped with an 'ecohat'; a cowl on
the roof with a solar heating panel and recovery system that
recycles heat out of stale air. The scheme is also being built to
Lifetime Homes and Secured By Design standards.
Housing Corporation Winner - Rostron Brow, Stockport
This scheme of eight shared ownership homes by Northern Counties
Housing Association has rescued a key site in the heart of
Stockport's Hillgate conservation area. Architects TADW
designed a development that converted a tobacco warehouse into
four homes, with a new-build block sat over a string of retail
units housing another four homes.
Winner - Adelaide Wharf, Hackney, London
A large scheme of 147 flats - including social rent and key
worker shared ownership - in a 'tenure blind' scheme
developed by English Partnerships with Tower Homes. Alford Hall
Monaghan Morris designed homes that feature large rooms and 10sq m
balconies, demonstrating that high density apartments can provide
family homes. The flats were built by developer First Base to
Lifetime Homes standards using modular construction.
Winner - Bourbon Lane, Shepherds Bush, London
This Registered Social Landlord development designed by
Cartwright Pickard provides 78 mixed tenure homes that provide
secure family homes, all with private outside space. Developers
Octavia Housing and Care have created a scheme that has a combined
heat and power source financed from savings arising from a fast
module construction system.
Project Award Winners
* Buckingham Riverside, Buckingham
* Gosport Railway Station, Gosport
* Tibby's Triangle, Southwold
* Tribeca Family Housing, Liverpool
* 452 Hackney Road, London
* Tribeca Plot 1, Liverpool
* Greenwich Peninsula, London
* Lobb Lane Mill, Manchester
'Must See'
* The West Parkside, Park Central, Birmingham
* Barking Central 1, London
Historic Awards
1954, Highworth Cottages, Kingsclere, Hampshire - an early form
of Design for Manufacture;
1958-1963, Golden Lane, City of London - the complete city neighbourhood;
1968, St Bernards, Croydon - higher density housing designed for
market sale that affords the same privacy as semi or detached homes;
1977, Lyde End, Bledow, Buckingham - Modern homes that are in
tune with the landscape and peoples domestic lives;
1987, Spinney Gardens, Crystal Palace - first steps towards low
energy and environmental sustainability;
1997, Smithfield Buildings, Manchester - urban regeneration using
a smart building conversion in a low value area to reinvigorate
local land values.
Notes to Editors
1. Lifetime Homes standards ensure more inclusive and flexible
housing to meet future demand in an aging society. Homes are built
with future-proofing features, such as downstairs toilet and
electrical sockets at convenient heights, and enable simpler,
cheaper adaptations to be made as people's circumstances change.
2. Secure by Design standards were devised by the Association of
Chief Police Officers to help prevent crime through better design
of buildings, neighbourhoods and the public realm.
3. Design for Manufacture (launched in April 2005) was a
Government sponsored competition to encourage the construction
industry to use modern methods of construction to deliver housing
more quickly, cost effectively and to higher standards.
4. The Housing Design Awards 2008 were held at Banqueting Hall,
Whitehall, London on Thursday, 4 July.
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom