National award
One of UK’s most considerate sites
A DEVELOPMENT of homes that has created a new community for older people in Loughborough has been recognised as one of the UK’s most considerate sites by a national industry award.
The collection of homes in Derby Road, developed by housebuilder Westleigh, won a silver award at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s National Site Awards 2018.
This is the second time that the development has received a National Site Award, having won a bronze at last year’s event.
Comprised of 62 apartments, Waterside Court, a £7m Extra Care Centre at the development, includes a shop, hair salon, film theatre, commercial kitchen and communal dining restaurant for the benefit of elderly residents, as well as staff offices.
The National Site Awards have taken place annually since launching in 1998 and are presented to those developments across the country which are deemed to have made the most significant contributions towards improving the image of construction.
The scheme places particular emphasis on the measures that a site has put in place to be more considerate to surrounding neighbourhoods, the general public, workforces and the local environment.
To display their commitment to the local community, the site team at Derby Road held a number of charity barbecues, took part in several participation days with the Canal and River Trust, and worked alongside students from Loughborough University as well as representatives from Age UK on its Men in Sheds campaign, which provided a space for older men to meet and pursue practical skills.
The development has also played an integral part in raising Westleigh’s standings on the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Best Practice Hub, an online search tool for key issues and resources in the industrial sector.
Mark Dixon, senior site manager at the Derby Road scheme, collected the award at the ceremony, which took place at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester.
He said: “It was a tremendous honour to receive this award on behalf of everyone who has worked so hard to make the Derby Road development the huge success that it is.
“The site has helped to address the need for housing and care for those who need it most in Loughborough, and we have made every effort to engage with the local community, who I would like to thank for all their support.
“The National Site Awards represent the most impressive achievements within the construction sector over the past 12 months, so we are very pleased that our hard work on and dedication to Derby Road has been recognised by the assessors.”
The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a non-profit organisation founded in 1997 to enhance public perception of the housing sector.