Celebrating Excellence in the Essex Housing sector

The inaugural Housing Essex Excellence Awards 2019 took place on the evening of 10 October at the County Hotel, Chelmsford. Celebrating the best individuals, projects and developments in housing within Essex.

The awards aim to recognise high quality developments, services and or individuals from the public, private and voluntary sector and promote best practice. They also seek to encourage greater collaboration and innovation in the housing sector.

Over 100 partners representing shortlisted entries gathered to celebrate and received a heart-felt welcome from Alison Inman, Board member at Colne Housing Society and Saffron Housing Trust and Director of Tpas.

The host for the night and key note speaker was none other than Danny Crates who is Essex’s Paralympic hero and one of the most successful British Paralympic athletes of recent times. A European and world champion, he won gold at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens in the 800m arm amputee section.

On the night a number of VIP guests presented the awards by opening the traditional gold envelope.

The judges this year were impressed with the high-quality entries from house builders, housing associations, local authorities, agents and the voluntary sector on housing developments and related support services in Essex.

Schemes showed strong design, good quality build and provided much needed affordable housing. Innovation and skills featured highly in the submissions with a focus on collaboration. Other entries highlighted the outstanding services organisations are offering to help support vulnerable people.

Alison Inman said: “On World Homeless Day I was very pleased to be here in Essex, to welcome guests to the Awards Ceremony. There was a great turnout and plenty to celebrate. I would like to congratulate all the winners and highly commended partners for their hard work”.

Further information:

The Housing Excellence Awards 2019 have been organised by the Essex Developers Group (EDG) and the South Essex Housing Group (SEHG) with the support from headline sponsors Birketts, CHP and Colne Housing.

Further information about the awards, including the shortlisted, highly commended, winning entries and the wider work of EDG and SEHG can be found on the housing Essex website: www.housingessex.org/housing-excellence-awards/

Awards Results – 10 October 2019

1. Special Chairs’ Award
Winner: Alethea Evans – Lead for Strategic Development, Planning Service, Place and Public Health at Essex County Council

2. Housing Schemes (over 50 homes)
Winner: Carnarvon Road – Estuary Housing Association
Highly Commended: St Luke’s Park – Countryside Properties

3. Housing Schemes (under 50 homes)
Winner: Tops Club – Thurrock Council
Highly Commended: Goldlay Square – Essex Housing, Essex County Council

4. Innovation
Winner: Energiesprong Pilots – Moat
Highly Commended: Modular Housing – Swan Housing Association

5. Skills
Winner: SECTA + Advice Hub – Southend-on-Sea & Basildon Councils
Highly Commended: Skills development – Essex County Council

6. Delivery Services to Vulnerable People
Winner: Jake Barnes – Estuary Housing Association (joint)
Winner: SK Architects / White Heather House – HARP (joint)

7. Partnership
Winner: South Essex Domestic Abuse Hub – South Essex Local Authorities
Highly Commended: Management of Temporary Accommodation – CHP & Chelmsford City Council

8. Housing Professional of the Year
Winner: Pete Watts – Swan Housing Association
Highly Commended:
Maureen Gallocker / Shona Gormley – Thurrock Council
Jennifer Gould – Basildon Council
Barbara Horne – Peabody / Essex County Council
Adam Thompson – Essex Housing, Essex County Council