Gainsborough: award-winning scheme up for award

West Lindsey District Council worked with partners, L&H Homes, Longhurst Group, Richard Julian Associates, Allan Joyce Architects and Robert Woodhead Ltd on this scheme.

The £1.2 million eco-town scheme in Cross Street, Gainsborough, has been shortlisted for Smaller New Housing Project of the Year at the Sustainable Housing Awards 2013.

These awards recognise excellence in the housing sector and put the spotlight on the best green social housing projects constructed in the UK.

It follows the scheme winning the Committed to Sustainability category of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in the East Midlands in April.

West Lindsey District Council teamed up with Longhurst and Havelok Homes, Robert Woodhead Limited and Allan Joyce Architects to create seven high quality, energy efficient, affordable homes.

It is the first project in the district to have successfully achieved one of highest energy efficiency ratings.

Coun Malcolm Parish, chairman of the council’s prosperous communities committee, said: “This is the third time the scheme has been shortlisted for an award, proving how innovative and sustainable it really is.”

“Not only does this development demonstrate our commitment to renewable energies, but also to regenerating Gainsborough and addressing the need for more affordable housing.”

In a bid to significantly reduce tenants’ energy and water bills the one, two, three and four bed homes feature triple-glazed eco clad doors and windows, more than 50 solar panels and rain water harvesting.

During the construction efforts were made to keep the project eco-friendly; 90 per cent of subcontractors were sourced within a 30 mile radius of the site, and only 1.4 per cent of site waste went to landfill.

In addition, 100 per cent of timber was sourced from sustainable forests. All unused timber was donated to the Old Nick Theatre to fuel its log burner.

Craig Pygall, construction director at Robert Woodhead Limited, said: “The Cross Street development was truly outstanding for a number of reasons, primarily the partnership working ethos that was adopted by all partners at inception.”

“We were able to adopt a fabric first approach and invest in the fabric of the building to achieve an exceptional level of airtightness to keep the properties warm for tenants and save heating costs.”

The winners of the Sustainable Housing Awards will be announced at the Lancaster London Hotel on 18th October.

By Claire O’Neill

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Twitter: @ClaireyONeill