LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Final Priory View, Dunstable wins at 2017

The project at Priory View, Dunstable, Bedfordshire was awarded the title of Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development at the Grand Final of the LABC Building Excellence Awards – one of the most recognised events on the building industry’s calendar.

A panel of industry experts judged a list of the highest quality projects from around England and Wales to reward the best in technical innovation, sustainability and design.

Designed by Kyle Smart Associates and constructed by Galliford Try Partnerships, Priory View is a five storey Independent Living Scheme containing 83 apartments of mixed tenure (affordable rent and shared ownership). The building is a community hub including a restaurant, café, minimarket, hairdressers and beauty/treatment rooms in central atria, located within easy walking distance of Dunstable Town Centre. Priory View is the first independent living scheme built by Central Bedfordshire Council. This was a major challenge, a steep learning curve and very rewarding for the Council.

The result is a stunningly designed, high quality development that is a vibrant part of the local community, filled with community spirited residents with access to support and care that enhance their independence. Priory View is unique because it has the ‘wow’ factor from the second you walk through the light filled entrance. It is more than alternative accommodation that an older person has to ‘accept’ because their home is no longer suitable for them. It is instead a place to celebrate life. The design doesn’t shout ‘old’: it shouts style and comfort and pizzazz. The colour schemes are bright and warm and the leisure areas are welcoming and spacious. The café and restaurant are shared with the local community and a delightful place for residents to take their family and friends. The roof terrace provides a great place to relax and the landscaped gardens and potting sheds give residents a place to make their mark on the development.

LABC Chief Executive Paul Everall said: “Our building excellence awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate innovation and good practice. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local council building control teams achieve high quality, sustainable buildings. Our awards are unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry.”

The Grand Finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards took place on Friday 10 November 2017 at the Westminster Park Plaza in London and was hosted by Gyles Brandreth, writer, broadcaster, actor, and former Conservative Member of Parliament.  Over 800 building industry professionals including contractors, architects and engineers attended the celebration to find out which projects won across the 15 hotly contested categories.

Find out everything you need to know about the LABC awards

About the LABC Building Excellence Awards

The LABC Building Excellence Awards showcase buildings and design teams that have had to tussle with complex technical or construction issues and building site constraints. They highlight innovative and creative solutions and building control professionalism that leads to safe, sustainable and high quality construction projects.

For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Louise Williams louise.williams@labc.co.uk or Philip Hammond phil.hammond@labc.co.uk. LABC tel 020 8616 8120.