Lilac Close and Lime Tree Court, Hatfield, Hertfordshire wins Best High Volume New Housing Development at 2019 LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Final

12.11.2019

Press Release

The scheme for Welwyn Hatfield District Council at Lilac Close (formerly Furzen Crescent) and Lime Tree Court (previously known as Garden Avenue) is a mixed development of social housing, creating some of the first new homes provided by the council in over 20 years. Council teams together with Hertfordshire Building Control worked with architects Rock Townsend and construction partners Mears New Homes to deliver both projects.

The projects were awarded the title of Best High Volume 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, safety and design.

This scheme of new affordable homes built on a garage site has helped to tackle historic issues such as anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping. The homes have been constructed to meet Lifetime Home Standard and all can be easily adaptable as tenants' needs change. Technical challenges such as constrained fire brigade access were resolved in pre application advice with building control and discussions with the fire authority. As a result, enhanced fire and sprinkler systems are provided that are cost-effective, environmentally friendly and less damaging than the norm.

Tenant Jodie Simmons of Lime Tree Court said: "We couldn't believe we were offered something this nice in the perfect location for our jobs and being close to our families." New tenant Ella Jones of Lilac Close, said: "The house is lovely, it doesn't feel like a council house. I'm very happy."

Lilac Close internal image - LABC Building Excellence Awards

The panel of expert judges said,

"This new development by the local council has transformed a run-down area that attracted anti-social behaviour by providing good quality affordable homes that are badly needed locally. The development comprises a mix of apartments and family homes built to contrasting contemporary designs which clearly enhance the area and will help set the bar for the future."

LABC Chief Executive Paul Everall said,

"Our Building Excellence awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice and they are unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with public service building control teams achieve high quality, sustainable buildings. "

The Grand Final of the LABC Building Excellence Awards took place on Friday 8 November 2019 at the Westminster Park Plaza in London and was hosted by multi award winning comedian Milton Jones. 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.

These awards showcase buildings and design teams that 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. Sponsors of the 2019 awards included Abbey Pynford, Actis, FMB, Home and Build, Jewson, Keystone, Keylite, LABC Acoustics, LABC Warranty, Planning Portal and Polypipe Building Services.