Awards showcase best new design

L&Q announced the winners of its Design for Living Awards 2007 in late September at New London Architecture in central London.

The annual awards were launched in 2004 and our regional development teams and the architects, developers and contractors they work with compete to win them. Each team nominated its best schemes completed between March 2006 and May 2007. A panel of judges then assessed the developments using criteria based on the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)’s ‘Building for Life’ assessment methodology.

Head of Procurement Kevin Murray said: “We believe it’s really important to reward and encourage innovative solutions and excellent design in the development of our new homes, and to showcase the successes of our development partners.”

The three category winners, announced at the champagne reception sponsored by Rydon Construction, were:

Best small project: Sakura Drive, by Tower Homes, JCMT Architects, BPM Project Management Ltd and Sibmar Construction Group

Best large project: Westway Beacons, by L&Q’s South West Thames Region, Gardner Stewart Architects, Kim Sangster Associates and Mansell Construction Services Ltd

Best regeneration project: Centurian Square, by L&Q’s South East Thames Region, Hunter and Partners and Countryside in Partnership plc

The overall winner chosen from these was Westway Beacons, also known as Banstead Court, in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. It includes 128 affordable homes - a mix of rented, supported and shared ownership - and was developed by L&Q Threshold Homes, formerly Threshold Housing, which joined the L&Q Group in spring 2007.

Judges praised the low-energy heating and cooling of the homes, by an aquifer thermal energy store that also provides water, and the creation of internal courtyards and winter gardens. CABE is now assessing Westway Beacons for a ‘Building for Life’ award.

For a week after the event, displays of the shortlisted developments were on show to the public at New London Architecture.

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