About the Awards
The 2026 Essex Housing Awards (EHA), in association with Birketts and Delta Housing, returns for its sixth year. The awards celebrate excellence across the public, private and voluntary sectors, recognising outstanding developments, services and individuals, and promoting best practice throughout the county.
This year features 12 award categories, including two new additions focused on partnership projects and social value. The remaining categories cover a wide range of areas, including developments of all sizes, design, climate action, skills and more – please find more information below.
Entries are now closed. You can see this year’s shortlisted entries via the link below. This year’s winners will be announced on Thursday 5 November, please see below for ticket information.
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Essex Housing Awards 2026 Ceremony
Join us for the Essex Housing Awards 2026 Ceremony on Thursday 5 November at Hylands House, just outside Chelmsford, for an evening dedicated to celebrating the people, partnerships and projects shaping housing across Essex. Standard tickets are now available at £160 per person, or £1,500 for a table of ten, with finalists asked to check their emails for details of their exclusive discount codes.
The ceremony is one of the key networking occasions in the Essex housing calendar, bringing together local authorities, housing associations, developers, consultants, contractors and sector partners for drinks, dinner and celebration. It is a chance to connect with leaders from across the public and private sector, strengthen relationships, and celebrate the outstanding achievements of this year’s finalists and winners.
Timeline
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Open for entries: 16 April 2026 -
Deadline for entries: 5pm, 12 June 2026 -
Judging panel: 17 July 2026 -
Finalists notified: July 2026 - Awards Ceremony: 5 November 2026
The Award Categories
Small Housing Schemes (1 – 24 homes)
Recognising small developments which make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs; improving the image and perception of housing in Essex.
Medium Housing Schemes (25 – 100 homes)
Recognising medium developments which make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs; improving the image and perception of housing in Essex.
Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes)
Recognising large developments which make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs; improving the image and perception of housing in Essex.
Excellence in Design & Placemaking
Recognising the development of homes / commercial development (new or refurbished) of any size which best meet the ambitions of the Essex Design Guide.
Excellence in Construction Skills
Organisations and initiatives that are helping to build the construction workforce required to support housing delivery across Greater Essex.
Climate Action and Net Zero Housing
Organisations that are taking meaningful action to address the climate crisis through the delivery, improvement or management of housing in Greater Essex.
Inclusive Growth and Social Value Award
Organisations that have embedded social value within their housing, regeneration or development activity in a way that delivers measurable and lasting benefit for Essex residents and places.
Meeting Housing Need - Specialist Housing
Organisations that are addressing the diverse and often complex housing needs of Essex residents through specialist provision.
Meeting Housing Need - Homelessness
Organisations and projects that are delivering effective interventions to prevent homelessness or provide support and accommodation for those experiencing it.
Partnership of the Year
Partnerships that have played a critical role in delivering housing, regeneration or related outcomes in Greater Essex.
Housing & Development Professional of the Year
An individual who has made a significant contribution to the housing or development sector in Greater Essex over the past year.
The Mo Slade Rising Star Award
A young person or apprentice who is making a strong early contribution within their organisation, demonstrating integrity, ambition and commitment to developing their career.
