Judges’ Report 2016

01 Introduction

02 TheJudgingPanel

03 TheJudgingProcess

04 Chair’sForeword

05 Shortlist

06 AwardsandSpecialCommendations

08 PrivateDevelopmentoftheYear-large(100+units)

09 PrivateDevelopmentoftheYear-medium(26-99units)

11 PrivateDevelopmentoftheYear-small(upto25units)

12 AffordableHousingDevelopmentoftheYear

14 HomeoftheYear-FirstTimeBuyers

15 SupportingOrganisationoftheYear

16 TheHomesforScotlandHomeBuilderoftheYear2016

17 Sponsors

Contents

Introduction

01

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Nowinits14thyear,ourannualawardsschemethisyearfollowedarefreshedandrefocusedformatfollowingacomprehensivereviewbyapanelofHomesforScotlandmembersinordertoensureaprogrammewhichisthemostrobustandcredibleintheindustry.

Withthecategoriesstrippedbacktofocusonwhatourmembersdofirstandforemost,buildhomestomeetdiverseneedsandaspirations,theawardsfor2016comprised:

Private Development of the Year – large (100+ units)

Private Development of the Year – medium (26-99 units)

Private Development of the Year – small (up to 25 units)

Affordable Housing Development of the Year

Home of the Year - First Time Buyers

Supporting Organisation of the Year

Allsubmissionswereopentohomebuilder,RegisteredSocialLandlordandassociatememberswithHomeBuilderoftheYeardecidedbytheindependentjudgingpanelfollowinginterviewswiththoseshortlistedinthePrivateDevelopmentcategories.Theseinterviewswithseniormanagementcoveredareassuchascustomerandemployeesatisfaction,productdesign,healthandsafety,demonstrationsofinvestmentandgrowthandotherqualityindicators.

02

The Judging Panel

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Ouresteemedjudgingpanelthisyearcomprised:

Kareen Davidson (Chair)FormerSales&MarketingDirector,BettHomes

Pam Ewen ImmediatePastConvenor,RTPIScotland

Margaret Cumming FormerManagingDirector,MillerHomes

Ian GilzeanChiefArchitect,ScottishGovernment

David Ogilvie Housingpolicyandstrategyconsultant

Malcolm MacLeodDirectorScotland,NHBC

Douglas Read PastPresident,RIAS

David Stewart PolicyLead,SFHA

Stuart TaitManager,Clydeplan

Linda DochertyImmediatePastChair,CMLScotland

The Judging Process

03

Atotalof74entrieswerereceivedwitheachjudgeassessingentriesacrossseveralcategories.

Thejudgingprocesswasbasedonthequalityandcontentofsubmissionsreceived.Itwasfurthersupportedbytheuseofscoringmatricestoensureconsistencyinassessment.Inaddition,judgesundertooksitevisitstoallshortlistedentriesinthePrivateDevelopmentandAffordableHousingDevelopmentoftheYearcategories.HomeBuilderoftheYearinterviewsalsotookplacewiththoseshortlistedunderthePrivateDevelopmentcategories.

ThejudgescompletedtheshortlistingprocessonFriday18thMarch,withawardsandcommendationsagreedonThursday28thApril.DetailswereannouncedattheHomesforScotlandAnnualLunch&AwardsceremonyonFriday20thMay.

Followingacomprehensivemember-ledreview,theHomesforScotlandAwards2016openedforentriesonWednesday11thNovember2015,withthefirstmeetingofthejudgingpaneltakingplaceonThursday14thJanuary2016.TheclosingdateforallentrieswasFriday29thJanuary2016.

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Chair’s Foreword

04

Havingbeenajudgelastyear,IwasdelightedtoaccepttheinvitationtoChairthejudgingpanelforthe2016HomesforScotland(HFS)awards.MyfellowjudgesandIthoroughlyenjoyedtheexperienceandIwouldliketopaytributetothetimeandexpertisetheyhavesofreelygiven.Thisensuredthatthatpanelwasfullyequippedtocarryoutarobustreviewofalltheentries.Thenumberanddiversityofthesubmissionsreceivedisencouragingforoursectorandatatimewhenmarketconditionsarefavourable.

Inordertoensurethattheschemeremainsthemostrobustandcredibleintheindustry,acomprehensivereviewbyapanelofHFSmemberswasundertaken.Therecommendationsweredulycarriedoutbythejudgingpanel,withcategoriesstrippedbackandapro-formaentrysubmissionintroducedtostreamlinetheprocess.This,togetherwithsitevisitsandinterviewsfortheheadlineHomeBuilderoftheYearaward,althoughtimeconsumingandgeographicallychallenging,provedtoworkwellandhasprovidedextrastrengthandcredencetotheawards.

Thejudgingpanelthoroughlyenjoyedthischallengeandunanimouslyagreedthatthiswasthewayforwardforfutureawards.

WhatwasapparentonthesesitevisitsisthataremarkabletransformationinthedevelopmentofnewhousinginScotlandhastakenplaceinrecentyears.ThiswasdemonstratedparticularlyfromsiteswhichadoptedtheDesigningStreetsphilosophy.This,togetherwithinnovativeexternalfinishesandconsideredlandscapinghasresultedinstrikingdevelopmentsindesirableplacestolive.Customersatisfactionisalsoatahighlevelacrosstheindustryandwithconstantinternalandexternalmonitoringthisshouldcontinue.

Theaffordablehousingelementoftheindustrywasalsowellrepresentedinthisyear’sawardsandtheshortlistprovesthatdiverseandexcitingstepshavebeentakeninScotlandtoprovidestylish,wellbuiltandenergy-efficienthomesataffordablerents,providingareaswithafreshidentity.

Allofthisprogressisindeedsomethingtobeproudofbutthereisstillscopeforimprovementandtheaimsurelyistoprovidemorenewhomes,builtontimeandtothehigheststandardpossible.

Withregardtotheentriesthemselves,thereweresharpcontrastsbetweeninnovative,wellthoughtoutsubmissionsandthoseattheoppositeendofthespectrum.Thiswasdisappointingasitisevidentfromthecommercialsuccessofdevelopmentsandhomedesignsthattheyaremeetingtheexactingcriteriaofthecustomer.Wethejudgesstronglyadvisecompaniestolookcloselyattheirentriesinthefuturetoensurethattheygivethemselvesthebestpossiblechancetomaketheshortlistinawardsofthishighstandard.

HousingsupplyinScotlandstillfallsshortofneedanddemandanditisimperativethatprovisionacrossallsectorsismet.Thisshouldbedeliveredwiththefocusonaffordability,qualityofdesignandbuildandcommunityengagement.Thecustomeristhekeytothefuturesuccessofthehomebuildingindustry.

Thecommentsbythejudgesonindividualawardsshowhowimpressedtheywerewiththemodernmethodsofconstructionusedtodeliverhighlyenergy-efficienthomesandhowcustomercareandenvironmentalresponsibilityareparamount.This,togetherwithworkplacesafetyandstafftraininggiveusastrongindicationthatbestpracticesarebeingdelivered.

Torepeatwhathasbeensaidbypreviouschairsofthejudgingpanel.“goodstandardstuffisn’tgoodenoughanymore,”andItrulybelievethatthequality,inspirationandenthusiasmofthewinnersintheseprestigiousawardsshowthattheyareindeedsteppinguptothemark.

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Kareen DavidsonFormerSales&MarketingDirector,BettHomes

‘Thejudgingpanelthoroughlyenjoyedthischallengeandunanimouslyagreedthatthiswasthewayforwardforfutureawards.’

Shortlist

05

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Private Development of the Year – large (100+units)

DundasEstates&DevelopmentCalderwood Village, Coatbridge

KierLivingEasternHawkhead Village, Paisley

RobertsonHomesAbbey Park, St Andrews

Private Development of the Year – medium (26-99 units)

A&JStephen(Builders)/ZeroC(partofthePlacesforPeopleGroup)Chapelton, Aberdeenshire

CrudenHomes(East)Woodcroft, Edinburgh

McCarthy&StoneLyle Court / Ramsay Grange, Edinburgh

Private Development of the Year – small (up to 25 units)

OakridgeGroupThe Gardens, Rutherford

SpringfieldPropertiesMiddleton of Canmore, Braemar

Affordable Housing Development of the Year

GHA(partoftheWheatleyGroup)/CCGScotlandSighthill, Glasgow

LowtherHomes(partoftheWheatleyGroup)Croftfoot St Julie’s, Glasgow

PlacesforPeopleFortune Place, Edinburgh

RobertsonPartnershipHomes&CaledoniaHousingAssociationKippen Dairy, Alexandria

Home of the Year – First Time Buyers

CrudenHomesWestBerberis

PersimmonHomesNorthNewmore

PlacesforPeopleScotia

Supporting Organisation of the Year

BrindleyAssociates

ForsterRoofing

HillcrestHousingAssociation

Thefollowinglistofshortlistedcompaniesandindividualswasannouncedon6thApril,withHomeBuilderoftheYearannouncedattheceremonyonFriday20thMay:

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Awards and Special Commendations

06

07

WithentriesacrossthePrivateDevelopmentcategoriesaskedtodemonstratehowdevelopmentscreatedahighqualityplaceforpeopletolivein,thisrevisedcategoryalsosoughttomeasurecommercialsuccess.Keycriteriaassessedbythejudgingpanelincludedcontributionstotheplace-makingandsustainabilityagendasandarchitecturaldesignquality.

Private Development of the Year

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Winner:

Dundas Estates and Development for Calderwood Village, Coatbridge

ThisdevelopmentwasapplaudedbythejudgesforthewayinwhichithastransformedfromabrownfieldsiterequiringsignificantinfrastructureinvestmenttoabespokerangeofnewhomesembracingtheDesigningStreetsphilosophy.

TheadditionalsupportprovidedbythedeveloperintheformofacommunityhubandFacebookpage,bothofwhicharewellused,weredeemedusefulextrasfortheresidentsofthisthrivingnewcommunity.

Withclearevidencethatthepurchasersaredelightedwiththeirnewhomes,thelocalplanningdepartmentalsosubmittedpositivewrittentestimonialsinsupportofthissubmission.

Sponsoredby

08

Private Development of the Year – large (100+ units)

Winner:

Cruden Homes (East) for Woodcroft, Edinburgh

Deliveredthroughaninnovativejointventure,thejudgesthoughtWoodcroftwasanexemplaryproject.

Fromtheoveralldesigntointernallayoutsandcustomercare,afocusonattentiontodetailhasresultedinahighlyimpressivedevelopment.

Woodcroftbenefitsfromawellthought-outstreetdesignandastrongurbancharacter.Theretentionofmaturetreesandexistingwallscreatesapositiverelationshipwiththesurroundingcontext.Astrongplace-makinganddesignethos,togetherwithattractiveandhighqualitymaterialsandworkmanship,isevidentthroughoutthesite.Thishasresultedinstrongsalesandacommerciallysuccessfuloutcomewhichhascontinuedthrougheachphaseofsitedevelopment.

Sponsoredby

09

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Private Development of the Year – medium (26 - 99 units)

10

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Special commendation:

A & J Stephen (Builders) / ZeroC (part of the Places for People Group) for Chapelton, Aberdeenshire

AnimpressivecollaborationbetweenthelandownerandthedeveloperscurrentlybuildinghisvisionhasresultedinacohesivetownscapebuildingontraditionalScottishdesigninfluences.

Walkableneighbourhoodswithmixeduseshavebeencreatedandgreenspaceconnectionsandpathwaysarewellintegratedinthemasterplan.Innovativehousetypes,customerfocusandaclearcommitmenttobuildingacommunitymeanthattwoofthedevelopersinvolvedintheproject,A&JStephenandZeroC,werebothdeemedhighlycommendablebythejudges.

Private Development of the Year – medium (26 - 99 units)

Winner:

Springfield Properties for Middleton of Canmore, Braemar

Thejudgeswereunanimousintheirdecisiontogranttheawardtothisdevelopmentof25homesnestledinBraemarwhichadoptsandadaptstoitslocalsurroundings.

Siberianlarchporchesandcladding,slateroofsandredtileridgesgivealocalHighlandambiencewhileinsidethereisunderfloorheating,anairsourceheatpumpandwifi.Thepanelparticularlynotedthefocuson“deliveringthehousethatthecustomerwants”andwereimpressedbythedisplaysofcustomerempowerment,workplacesafety,stafftrainingandconcernfortheenvironment(bothecologicalandsocial)whichfigurelargelyinthecompanyethos.

Sponsoredby

11

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Private Development of the Year – small (up to 25 units)

Affordable Housing Development of the Year

Witharefocusingonaffordablehousingdevelopments,entriesforthisawardwereaskedtodemonstratehowprojectscreatedahighqualityplacetoliveinaswellashowtheycontributedtotheregenerationoflocalcommunities.

Winner:

GHA (part of the Wheatley Group) / CCG Scotland for Sighthill, Glasgow

Thejudgingpanelwashugelyimpressedwiththescaleofregenerationwhichthisdevelopmenthasachieved,deliveringstrikingnewhomesforaffordablerentandrevitalisingtheareawithafreshidentity-withstrongevidencethatthehighqualityenvironmenthasgivenresidentsanewleaseoflifeandimprovedhealthoutcomes.

Judgesnotedthehigh-qualitydesign,generousspacestandardsandhowthemodernmethodsofconstructionusedhavedeliveredhighlyenergy-efficienthomes.Thepanelwasalsoimpressedwiththeengagementwithpartnersinthesupplychainwhichhasdeliveredsignificantcommunitybenefitthroughoutthedevelopmentphase.

Aparticipativeapproachtotheredevelopmentofthesitehasseenresidentsinvolvedinselectingmaterialsandinfluencingtheoveralldesign.

Sponsoredby

12

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Affordable Housing Development of the Year

Special commendation:

Places for People for Fortune Place, Edinburgh

Thejudgesfeltthisdevelopmentwasworthyofaspecialcommendationduetotheremarkablewayinwhichitredefinesexpectationsaboutwhathousingfortheoldergenerationshouldlooklikeinthe21stcentury.

LocatedinanexistingresidentialareaonthesiteofaformerCouncilcarehome,thedevelopmentisarrangedaroundtwosharedresidents’courtyards.Eachpropertyhasanattractiveopen-planlayoutwithcarefullyconsideredspecificationsandfeaturesandadiscreetlyintegrateddementia-friendlydesign.

AdditionalinvestmentfromtheBigLotteryFundhasdeliveredacommunalresidents’gardenroomwithbi-folddoorsleadingtothegarden,akitchenandtwoaccessibletoilets.Thisallprovidesauniquebaseforcommunitycapacitybuildingovertheshorttermwhichwillundoubtedlyhelptomeldcommunityspiritamongstresidents.

13

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Home of the Year - First Time Buyers

WithaquarterofScotland’s20to34year-oldsnowstayingwithparents,ourcountry’shousingcrisisisparticularlyaffectingyoungpeople.Recognisingthis,thechosenhousetypeforthisnewawardwasthatsuitableforthoselookingtotaketheirfirststepsontothehousingladder.Submittedhousetypeswererequiredtobeprivatehomesforsaleonlyandcoreproductsbuiltregularlyacrossanumberofdevelopments.

Winner:

Cruden Homes West for the Berberis

Highlightingaclearunderstandingofthelifestyleneedsanddemandsofavarietyoftargetbuyers,thejudgesapplaudedthissubmissionforitsdemonstrationsofbuildingandmarketingofaffordablehousingforsalewithinmixedtenuredevelopments.

ThecontemporarydesignoftheBerberistwobedroomapartmentwasseenasarealdrawtothoseFirstTimeBuyerslookingforanaffordableoptiontogetontothepropertyladder.

Sponsoredby

14

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

Supporting Organisation of the Year

Thisawardcelebratesthevitalrolethatassociatemembersplayindeliveringmuchneededhousingaswellasthevaluetheyaddtothewiderindustry.

AssociateandRSLmemberswereinvitedtodemonstratehowtheirorganisationcontributedeitherinrelationtoparticularprojectsorbestpracticeinitiativesofbenefittothegeneralhousingsector.

Winner:

Hillcrest Housing Association

Thejudgeswereimpressedbythewayinwhichtheorganisationbasesitsvaluesaroundpeopleandcommunities.

Byprovidingin-housemaintenance,theorganisationhasdeliveredhighlevelsofcustomersatisfactionandstrongpartnershipworkingwiththeprivatesectortobuildsustainableplacesisdeliveringexcellentresults.

Overall,thejudgesapplaudedthissubmissionforthewayinwhichHillcrestismakingacleardifferencetothepeopleandplacesitworkswith.

Sponsoredby

15

AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

The Homes for Scotland Home Builder of the Year 2016

Winner:

Cruden Homes

Adiverseandforward-thinkingorganisation,thejudgeswereunanimousintheirdecisiontoawardCrudenHomesthistopaccoladebasedonitsinnovativeapproachtopartnershipworkinganddeal-making.

Itwascleartothepanelthatthecustomeriskeytothecompany’soverallapproachtohomebuilding,withthispermeatingthrougheveryaspectofthebusiness.

AsdemonstratedbythegrantingofawardsforPrivateDevelopmentoftheYear–mediumandHomeoftheYear,afocusondeliveringbespokedesignsacrossavarietyofdifferentsitesmadeCrudenstandoutfromthecrowd.

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AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

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AWARDS2016HOMES FOR SCOTLAND

With thanks to the following award sponsors:

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