Let’s chat about the Essex Housing Awards’ new categories

The Essex Housing Awards 2025, in association with Birketts, is delighted to introduce two new categories and one category brought back for its second year based on industry priorities and engagement from the Essex Housing Awards 2024.

As a housing awards, we reflect, recognise, and foster conversation around the topics that matter most in Essex’s housing sector. We are always eager to hear from participants and colleagues in the industry about what they consider to be the future-forward categories of the year.

This year, we have twelve award categories, accepting entries until 5 pm on Friday, 27 June. The two new categories are as follows: the Climate Action category has been divided into two specialised categories: Climate Action – Decarbonisation Retrofit and Climate Action – Decarbonisation New Build. Likewise, the Meeting Housing Need category has been expanded to include homelessness prevention and specialist housing. Additionally, there is a category that returns for it’s second year, the Smart Working Award category.

Find all twelve award categories below:

1. Small Housing Schemes (1-24 homes)
2. Medium Housing Schemes (25-100 homes)
3. Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes), sponsored by Birketts
4. Excellence in Design and Placemaking
5. Excellence in Construction Skills
6. Climate Action – Decarbonisation / Retrofit, sponsored by Kind & Company: Organisations that are responding to climate change by decarbonising their housing stock.
7. Climate Action – Low or zero carbon in New Build: Organisations that are responding to the climate crisis by developing low / zero carbon new housing stock in Essex in response to the Essex Climate Action Commission report / Developers Charter.
8. Meeting Housing Need – Specialist Housing: An organisation that has taken a strategic approach and worked in partnership to address an identified specialist housing need in Essex supporting healthy / independent living.
9. Meeting Housing Need – Homelessness: Organisations or projects providing targeted support to vulnerable people and families to either prevent homelessness or intervene when it occurs.
10. Smart Working: Organisations that can best show how their use of smart working including use of digital technology is significantly improving outcomes for their residents and/or place
11. Housing and Development Professional of the Year, sponsored by Countryside Partnerships (part of the Vistry Group)
12. The Mo Slade Rising Star Award, sponsored by Anderson Development Group

Basildon Borough Council, winner of the Meeting Housing Need in the Essex Housing Awards 2024, said: “Applying for the awards was a very simple process and we recommend all developers to submit applications. For us, winning the Meeting Housing Need was an honour and gave the team a real sense of pride and recognition for their efforts in meeting the huge challenges faced by in the sector in the delivery of affordable housing. As well as sharing the development journey for our affordable housing programme, and recognising hard work and expertise, the Essex Housing Awards has helped us to grow our reputation with stakeholders and partners, opening new conversations and opportunities for future schemes. We highly recommend others to participate—it’s a rewarding and impactful experience.”

Melanie Keys, winner of the Housing & Development Professional of the Year category in the Essex Housing Awards 2024, said: “It was so surreal when my name was called on stage! The night had been great already as it was a chance to share our journey in Essex’s housing sector, connect with others facing similar challenges, and showcase the work that often goes unseen as there is so much good work going on to increase the supply of housing across the county. I was delighted to be recognised for this award and am proud to work alongside my peers and team that are so dedicated and passionate about delivering quality new housing that meets resident’s needs. I would absolutely encourage others to enter their development projects or to recognise an individual for the Essex Housing Awards, it’s a truly uplifting and meaningful experience from start to finish.”

Gemma Gallagher, Head of Marketing and Partnerships, Kind & Company, sponsors of the Essex Housing Awards 2025, said: “We think the Essex Housing Awards has a great impact on supporting regional housing and the awards themselves really have a community feel to them! Hosting the awards annually gives the community a great boost and sense of achievement!”

From builders, housing associations, local authorities, contractors and agents in Essex to voluntary sector organisations delivering housing services in the area, we welcome your nominations. Take the leap! Send your entry in now.

After nominations are submitted, a panel of expert judges, including housing practitioners and advisors from both public and private sectors, will evaluate each entry to select the winners in each category. The winners will then be announced at an elegant evening ceremony, expected to host around 200 attendees.

The Awards is brought together in partnership with Housing Essex, Essex Developers Group (EDG), the South Essex Housing Group (SEHG), and the Essex Housing Officers Group (EHOG). It is held in association with Birketts and is sponsored by Anderson Development, Kind & Company and Countryside Partnerships (part of the Vistry Group).

Please note: It’s free to apply to multiple categories at the Essex Housing Awards.

For more information, and to enter, visit: https://www.housingessex.org/essex-housing-awards-2025/

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Twitter: @EssxHousingAwds