Riverside Heights, Shorey Bank Way, Darwen wins Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development at 2019 LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Final

13.11.2019

Press Release

The project at Riverside Heights, Shorey Bank Way, Darwen, Lancashire, designed by Langtry- Langton Architects and built by ENGIE as main Contractor, 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 and teams from around England and Wales to reward the best in technical innovation, sustainability, safety and design.

Working in partnership with building control teams from Bradford Council and Pennine Lancashire (formerly Blackburn with Darwen BC and Burnley BC), the designers, contractor and their client have created an exemplar scheme of Extra Care Housing, comprising 85 apartments and 34 accessible bungalows.

Extensive site remediation was required with contamination hotspots and variable ground levels. Technical innovation was evident in the use of an off-site "Fusion" Building System for the extra care facility super-structure. And the team worked closely with the fire service to include additional fire safety measures to ensure the elderly residents' safety.

Councillor Brian Taylor, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said, "By providing a safe and supported environment, Riverside Heights is a place where people can live independently for longer. This new scheme offers older people in the borough more choice about where they live and the social care they receive, making a positive difference to their quality of life and well-being."

Riverside Heights 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 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. 840 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.