Shortlist Announced for Essex Housing Awards 2024

The results are in: Essex Housing Awards 2024, held in association with Birketts, has officially unveiled its shortlist.

On 26 July 2024, a panel of leading housing professionals and advisors convened for the highly anticipated day of judgment. The panel reviewed the diverse entries competing for the prestigious awards and was notably impressed by the substantial increase in new organisations and developments being submitted this year – a rise of 70%.

The standout category this year was ‘Meeting Housing Need,’ highlighting a positive alignment between the real estate industry and the county’s national goals for increased housing. Essex’s emerging local plans are set to deliver approximately 148,000 homes by the mid-2030s, equating to around 9,700 annually. Over the past five years, net annual housing additions in Essex have more than doubled from 2,900 in 2013-14 to 6,600 in 2019-20, with affordable housing delivery reaching a 24-year high of 1,700 homes in 2019-20.

Also reflecting housing trends, with the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Regulations this February, was the increased entries for the new ‘Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement’ category. 

Reflecting the ever-evolving landscape, the Awards continue to celebrate excellence in developments, services, and individuals across the public, private, and voluntary sectors, while promoting best practices throughout the county. This year features 12 award categories, including three new additions.

The shortlisted individuals eagerly await the dazzling Awards Ceremony in November. The event will not only honour their remarkable accomplishments and growth over the past year but will also offer a platform to connect with industry leaders in the county; sharing knowledge through lived experience, and unlocking a world of opportunities through collaboration.

Steven Kay, Partner, Head of Housebuilder Sector Group, Real Estate, Birketts LLP, said: “As headline partner for this year’s awards, we were proud to host the judging panel meeting at our newly refurbished Chelmsford office. As my second year of being involved in the judging process, I was really impressed with the calibre of entries and to see that the quality of applications continues to rise from the region.

I had the privilege of contributing my insights and experience across three key categories: Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes) – a category sponsored by Birketts; Medium Housing Schemes (25-100 homes); and Housing & Development Professional of the Year. I look forward to celebrating the outstanding projects and businesses for their hard work and contributions at the awards ceremony in November.”

Mark Curle, Chair, Essex Developers Group (EDG), said: “As Chair of the EDG, it was a privilege to lead the panel meeting. The competition was fierce, but having such an incredible group of real estate leaders in one room working together, helped us identify this year’s deserving winners.

“I helped review and score entries across three important categories: Excellence in Construction Skills, Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes), and Climate Action: Decarbonisation/Retrofit or New Build. 

“The calibre of submissions from across the county was outstanding, reflecting the remarkable innovation within our industry. I’m  eager to see the real-world impact of these developments on the community and of course, anticipate what comes next!”

The shortlisted entries are as follows:

Beaulieu – Countryside and L&Q (Excellence in Design & Placemaking)

Brierely Paddocks, Mersea Island – CHP (Medium Housing Schemes (25 – 100 homes))

Chelmsford City Council Homes for Ukraine scheme (Meeting Housing Need)

CHP – Meeting Housing Need (Meeting Housing Need)

Climate and Planning Unit – Essex County Council (Excellence in Construction Skills & Climate Action – Decarbonisation / Retrofit or New Build )

Construction Management Higher Technical Qualification – South Essex College (Excellence in Construction Skills)

Cricketers Court, Basildon Borough Council (Medium Housing Schemes (25 – 100 homes))

Essex County Council (Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement)

Estuary Housing Association (Smart Working)

Ghyllgrove – Sempra Homes (Excellence in Design & Placemaking)

Hollymead Square – The Hill Group, Clarion Housing Group & Octopus Energy (Climate Action – Decarbonisation / Retrofit or New Build)

HRA Land Review Phase 3A – Southend on Sea City Council (Small Housing Schemes (1 – 24 homes))

Lawford Green – Rose (Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes) & Excellence in Design & Placemaking)

Millbrook Studios, Harlow – Hollybrook (Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes) & Excellence in Design & Placemaking)

Mount Hill, Halstead – Stonebond and Eastlight Community Homes (Medium Housing Schemes (25 – 100 homes))

New Build and Acquisition Programme – Basildon Council and Sempra Homes (Meeting Housing Need)

Phase 7 Programme – Basildon Borough Council (Small Housing Schemes (1 – 24 homes))

Retrofit Action Plan – Southend-on-Sea City Council (Climate Action – Decarbonisation / Retrofit or New Build)

Rose & Lawford Housing Enterprise Trust (LHET) (Meeting Housing Need)

Shernbroke, Waltham Abbey – Essex Housing (Medium Housing Schemes (25 – 100 homes))

Silver Band Close – Colchester City Council (working with Colchester Borough Homes) (Small Housing Schemes (1 – 24 homes) & Meeting Housing Need)

South Essex Homes – Domestic Abuse (Healthy Housing)

Southend-on-Sea City Council (Meeting Housing Need)

Spains Hall Estate (Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement)

Start Hill – Great Hallingbury (Small Housing Schemes (1 – 24 homes))

The Lindens – Arbora Homes (Small Housing Schemes (1 – 24 homes))

The Wildfell Centre for Environmental Recovery (Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement)

Willow Park, Halstead – Bellway Essex (Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes))

Individual Awards

Melanie Keys, Sempra Homes (Housing & Development Professional of the Year)

Nicola Melville, Climate and Planning Unit, Essex County Council (Housing & Development Professional of the Year)

Joe Orves, Colchester Borough Homes (The Mo Slade Rising Star Award)

Joe Stanhope, Sempra Homes and Basildon Borough Council (The Mo Slade Rising Star Award)

Rosie O’Neill, CHP (The Mo Slade Rising Star Award)

Vikki Barnes, CHP (Housing & Development Professional of the Year)

The Essex Housing Awards 2024 is brought together in partnership with the Housing Essex, Essex Developers Group (EDG), the South Essex Housing Group (SEHG), and the Essex Housing Officers Group (EHOG) and is sponsored by Anderson Development, Kind & Company, Spicerhaart Land & New Homes, Countryside Partnerships (part of the Vistry Group), CHP and Ground Control and is supported by Rentplus and Estuary Housing Association. 

For more information on the awards programme, visit:

https://www.housingessex.org/essex-housing-awards-2024/

Follow the Awards on:

Twitter @EssxHousingAwds #EssexHousingAwards

LinkedIn: Essex Housing Awards