Top awards for best new buildings in borough
THE stunning transformation of the Jennings Building in Porthcawl and a new building called Y Bont in Bridgend were the big winners at Bridgend County Borough Council’s 12th annual LABC Building Excellence Awards.
Between them, the two buildings won five of the nine awards handed out by the council in a ceremony held in the Civic Offices, Bridgend.
Designed by Oriel Architects and built by Willmott Dixon Y Bont, a meeting venue, has been created next to the South Wales Police Headquarters on Cowbridge Road.
With a similar design to the HQ, yet on a much smaller scale, the new building certainly fits into its surroundings and replaced an outdated café that previously stood on the site.
The original brief was to design a building suitable for all, and Oriel Architects certainly succeeded, creating a peaceful environment that is accessible for all disabilities and users.
Recognising quality, the its high council awarded the development three accolades – ‘Best public service building’, ‘Best inclusive building’, and a ‘ Special planning award’.
Also among the winners was the new Bettws Primary School, which was named as the ‘Best educational building’ while Jeff and Debbie Williams’ dream home in Porthcawl picked up the award for ‘ Best individual new home’.
As his professional rugby career took Jeff all around the world, he and Debbie collected photos of their favourite homes they’d either lived in or seen during a 25 year spell, and have now used those photos as inspiration to create an outstanding four bedroom home in Marlpit Lane.
Councillor Richard Young, Bridgend County Borough Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “The LABC Building Excellence Awards are about celebrating excellence from the drawing board to the site.
“The awards are organised by the council’s building control team which carries out 7,000 inspections every year, from checking the foundations of a new house to the steel structures of an industrial project.
“We are accountable to the public and people within the construction industry respect our impartial advice.
“Building Regulations are regularly changing in order to make buildings as safe, accessible and sustainable as possible and there are likely to be major new regulations to follow soon following the catastrophic Grenfell Tower fire.
“These annual awards recognise the quality of workmanship shown by constructors to not only comply with building regulations, but to also show the highest standards of technical innovation to construct buildings that meet customer needs and look great.
“This year we have seen truly innovative design, thoughtful use of materials, and in one case, a real determination to bring back a building from the brink of destruction.
“All of the winners can feel extremely proud of their awards and I would like to congratulate them all on their success.”
The full list of winners in Bridgend County Borough Council’s annual LABC Building Excellence Awards is as follows:
Best extension or alteration: The extension of Pyllau House in Coytrahen by Scimitar Construction.
Best new home: individual Elegant four bedroom home ‘Bayleaves’ in Marlpit Lane, Porthcawl, owned by Jeff and Debbie Williams. Built by local builder Karl Gardner.
Best high volume new housing development: The Pentre Felin development on Maesteg Road, Tondu, by Llanmoor Homes Ltd.
More than two hundred new properties have been built to a high quality on this former brownfield site.
Best public service building, Best inclusive building, and Special planning award: An outdated café has been redeveloped into Y Bont at the entrance to the Police Headquarters in Bridgend next to the memorial gardens.
The contractor was Willmott Dixon and the architect was Steve Price of Oriel Architects.
Best educational building: The new Bettws Primary School, which was designed by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Built Environment team and built by Andrew Scott Ltd.
Best small commercial building and Best partnership scheme: The transformation of the Grade II listed Jennings Building on Porthcawl waterfront by Loft Co and Ellis Williams Architects.