We have been named the winners in the Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development category at the LABC Building Excellence Awards.
The success of our rural development in the village of Goldsithney, Cornwall, comes a year after we won the same award thanks to our rural scheme in St Breward in the same county.
The Daffodil Fields development in Goldsithney was completed in the spring of 2019 and delivered nine homes for shared ownership and nine for rent.
It was also shortlisted for the Best Affordable Housing Development at last year’s Inside Housing Development Awards.
Our Head of Delivery, Rob Cock, said: “‘We are delighted that our Goldsithney scheme has won this award.
“I am sure the judges will have been impressed by the sympathetic appearance of the design and the use of natural materials.
“Achieving such a high-quality development was not without its challenges and it’s great that the team’s dedication and hard work has been recognised.
“The scheme also demonstrates LiveWest’s continued commitment to provide rural affordable housing for local people in areas of high need.”
Stefan and Charlotte Smith were one of the first families to move into a shared ownership home in the village.
The couple were living in RNAS Culdrose – Stefan is a helicopter engineer in the Royal Navy – with their two children as they saved up for their own home.
And Charlotte admits they jumped at the chance to move into the new development once they saw the initial floor plans and the stunning location.
Charlotte said: “I would like to thank LiveWest for building lovely homes like this which are affordable for young families. Without housing associations like this, we would all be priced out of the market.
“They were so helpful every step of the way.
“The homes are fantastic and in an area we were desperate to live in.
“Having a development like this made it more affordable for people like us. It just made it more achievable.”
Our New Business Manager, Simon Jones, worked closely with the Perranuthnoe Parish Council and Cornwall Council to bring this affordable housing development to the village.
Simon said: “There is a lot to be proud of in working with the parish and Cornwall Council to take a site offered to the open market and securing funding to deliver such a great scheme as all affordable.
“It is rewarding to hear the story of Stefan and Charlotte Smith and hearing how the work put into the scheme has such a positive impact on the lives of one of the families enjoying these lovely new homes.”
Cornwall Councillor Sue Nicholas, said: “As the Cornwall Councillor for this division I am so pleased and proud that Daffodil Fields has won this National award.
“I believe that the cooperation between LiveWest, the Parish Council and myself to ensure that the design, layout and effective use of traditional materials clearly shows what can be achieved in providing such an excellent standard of affordable housing.
“It proves that all the negotiations and hard work that has been put into this development has provided such amazing homes for local people to be proud to live in.”
Andy Moore, of Perranuthnoe Parish Council, added: “The parish council worked very closely with LiveWest at Daffodil Fields to meet local need in an area of high house prices.
“The high standard of design and the use of traditional materials was really important as the site is very visible on the approach and exit to the village of Goldsithney. The finished homes are a credit to all involved.”
We were also highly commended in the Best Large Commercial Project for our Tolvaddon office.
The 17,000 square office space was delivered in partnership with local construction firm Bradys Construction Ltd and we also worked with local architects Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole (PBWC) to design the purpose-built open plan office.
Our Workplace and Facilities Manager, Marie Turner, said: “I am super proud of all who have contributed to the success of this project in delivering our amazing workplace in Tolvaddon.
“We were all absolutely thrilled and excited to hear that we were shortlisted for this prestigious award earlier this year and the fantastic news that we have achieved the Highly Commended Award in the Best Large Commercial Project category of the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2020.”