Best Project of the Year Winner
Beeston Goods Yard
Entered by ilke Homes
ilke Homes is a modular housing company helping to tackle the UK’s growing housing shortage by delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes in half the time of traditional methods. The Beeston Goods Yard development saw ilke Homes working in partnership with East Midlands Housing Association (EMHA), Network Rail and Broxtowe Borough Council to deliver a 42 unit affordable-led modular housing scheme on the former Beeston railway goods yard.
Judges‘ comment: “Deserving winners for innovation. This is an important modular housing project directly addressing climate change and affordable housing. The deal was Network Rail’s first in modular housing and was part of its strategy to release under-utilised land for development, with profits reinvested in the rail network."
Best Project of the Year Commended
The Vale of Belvoir Natural Burial Ground
Entered by Fisher German
A rare farm diversification project, led by Fisher German, involving the change of use of arable land in the Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire, to a sustainable natural burial ground which will provide long-term conversation of a sentimental site in the local community. The ethos of sustainability, with everything returning to the soil, was the primary objective pervading all aspects of the development, with substantial focus on promoting the environmental and community benefits of natural burial as an alternative to conventional burial and cremation methods. This is a leading example of planning for the natural environment in rural communities.
Judges‘ comment: “An excellent example of farm diversification. This was a project involving the change of use of arable land to a natural burial ground, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional burial methods and a worthy prize winner.”