SP&A Architects LLP acted for Housing 21 on the Beckwith Mews Extra Care Housing which has won an award for Best Social Housing Project in the local Building Excellence Awards presented by Sunderland City Council. The project received a BREEAM 'very good' rating.
The Construction News article is reproduced below
FHM AWARDED BEST SOCIAL HOUSING PROJECT
Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) North East has been awarded Best Social Housing Project at the local Building Excellence Awards 2010 for its Beckwith Mews development.
The Wearside-based firm won the award, which is presented by Sunderland City Council, for its development of the extra care scheme in Silksworth, Sunderland.
The £5.9m development provides independent living for older people with the opportunity to rent, own or part own one of the 40 two-bedroom apartments on site with access to 24-hour care provision tailored to meet individual needs. Facilities include a restaurant, community library, lounge, hair salon, laundry, landscaped gardens, sun terrace and a guest suite.
The scheme, which was developed in partnership with Sunderland City Council and Housing 21 has been awarded a 'very good' rating from BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) - the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings, setting the standard for best practice in sustainable design and environmental performance.
An awards ceremony will be held on February 5 at the Sunderland Stadium of Light and the scheme will also be submitted to the Local Authority Building Control Northern Region Building Excellence Awards in April.
Keith McDougall, FHM's Construction Director said: "This is a great achievement for FHM and we are delighted to win the Best Social Housing category. Beckwith Mews was the first extra care scheme to open in Sunderland providing residents with the opportunity to live independently instead of residential care.
"The scheme, which has attracted praise for its environmental credentials, is developed to the highest quality standard using modern methods of construction. The timber frame provides high levels of insulation which means cheaper fuel bills for residents and we are now incorporating this technology in our future extra care projects."
Commenting on the awards, Cllr Henry Trueman, Sunderland City Council's portfolio holder for Sustainable Communities, said: "Sunderland City Council is keen to support organisations that go beyond the regulatory requirements in the many projects in which we are involved by providing quality and innovative designs.
"The awards acknowledge the extremely high levels of architectural talent, development and construction skills working in partnership across the city and I would like to congratulate FHM for the extra care development at Beckwith Mews."
Meanwhile, FHM's resident liaison officer, Gill Sweeney has been shortlisted for the Tenant / Resident Involvement Officer of the Year Award in the 2010 Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Awards.
Gill has been selected amongst five other officers across the northern region for her role as a Lead Resident Liaison Officer (RLO) within South Tyneside. The Northern Region TPAS Awards will be held at the Ramada Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester on 3 February.