"A fantastic opportunity to share ideas and celebrate achievements" : Essex Housing Awards 2025 winners in conversation

In anticipation of the launch of the Essex Housing Awards 2026 later this week, we are releasing our final winners’ case studies for the 2025 awards, held on 16 October at Hylands House, in association with Birketts, CHP and Estuary Housing Association. Thirteen winners were announced across twelve categories, and these case studies explore their journeys and reflections. This is three of three.

In this piece, we will delve deeper into conversations with Martin Berry, Strategic Housing Manager at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, winners of the Climate Action – Decarbonisation / Retrofit award, sponsored by Kind & Company, and the Climate Action – Low or zero carbon in New Build award, sponsored by Ground Control. We also hear from Nina Ferster, Assets Surveyor – Property Services at Tendring District Council, winners of the Small Housing Schemes (1 – 24 homes) award and Laura Slade, Marketing & Bid Coordinator at JTP LLP, winners of the Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes) award, sponsored by Birketts.

Laura begins by sharing why JTP, now with a significant and growing portfolio of projects across Essex, applied to the awards: “The awards provide a platform to showcase the quality and impact of our work. It was also good to celebrate the projects and the teams and partnerships behind them who we are working with.”

Martin highlights the value of the awards and its ever-evolving award categories: “The Awards provide a valuable platform to showcase the breadth and impact of the Council’s housing programme… They also allow us to highlight the areas where we exceed expectations; meeting housing need, driving sustainability, and setting a benchmark for affordable, high-quality development within the region.”

Nina describes the entry process as “clear” and “well-structured”, allowing her team to present their project – Honeycroft, a modern, sustainable, inclusive development that transformed sheltered housing – effectively. Laura agrees, adding that the process was “comprehensive”, enabling her team to truly demonstrate the full breadth of their work.

Reflecting on the awards evening, Martin comments: “The awards evening itself was professionally delivered, well attended, and offered a strong opportunity to connect with partners and peers from across the sector.” Laura adds that it was particularly positive to receive complementary tickets following their shortlisting, a point echoed by Nina, who noted the benefit this brings to smaller local businesses and local authorities. She adds: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to share ideas and celebrate achievements across the housing sector. It was inspiring to see so many organisations striving for excellence.”

When asked to describe the Essex housing sector in the three words, Martin chose, “Recognition, collaboration, evolving”. Laura also highlighted collaboration, alongside “innovative” and “ambitious”, while Nina reiterated “innovative” she added “broad” and “community-focused”.

On winning, Laura reflected on her team’s achievement: “Having our work recognised at these awards is always an inspiring and fantastic achievement. The recognition reinforces our belief in creating well-designed, healthy and happy communities that are created with a story and legacy.”

Martin notes that for his team – currently delivering much-needed affordable homes that are designed, built, and managed to a standard that supports long-term sustainability and resident wellbeing – the award serves as “reinforcement that our approach is making a real difference and gives the team a tangible sense of achievement.”

For Tendring District Council and Rose Builders, Nina said: “It validates the hard work and collaboration that went into Honeycroft and reinforces our commitment… (and is) a great morale boost for our teams and partners.”

Since the awards, all the teams have continued their work. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is progressing on its Passivhaus Pilot Project, with a target start on site in the new year. This will deliver three Passivhaus family homes, helping it test and refine ultra-low-energy construction within its development pipeline and inform future schemes. The Council is also advancing its Ground Source Heat Pump (WHSHF Wave 3) Project, which will see significant progress in 2026. The project will see 203 properties have their expensive electric storage heating replaced with ground source heat pumps connected to a shared ground loop. The coming year will see crucial enabling works undertaken, including drilling and installation of the shared system.

Tendring District Council is currently in the pre-construction phase of the Carnarvon Terrace project in Clacton – Government-funded delivery of 28 much-needed, well-designed new homes, improvements to the existing car park, and creation of new ‘maker space units’ for retail entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, JTP continues its visioning and masterplanning work at Feering in Essex for the Crown Estate, alongside its ongoing role at Chelmsford Garden Community.

With the launch of the Essex Housing Awards 2026 around the corner, Nina offers this advice for prospective entrants: “Go for it! The process is a great way to reflect on your achievements and share best practice. It’s not just about winning—it’s about celebrating progress and inspiring others within Essex. If you have a project that makes a difference, these awards are the perfect platform to showcase it.”

Martin adds that it is a “worthwhile investment of time and a strong way to celebrate the efforts of your team and partners”.

Click here to read about our other winners and nominees: https://www.housingessex.org/essex-housing-awards-2025/

Entries for the Essex Housing Awards 2026 open later this week, follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to hear all about it.