Good Homes Alliance is pleased to support the UK’s longest-running housing awards, set up by government in 1948, which are now open for entry. We’re pleased that GHA Chair Lynne Sullivan OBE is once again part of a select group of judges, made up of industry experts, government officials and enthusiasts.
The Housing Design Awards send a cross-disciplinary panel of 20 judges from key industry stakeholders, including DLUCH, Homes England, Good Homes Alliance, GLA, UDL, RIBA and RTPI, to visit typically 50 schemes shortlisted from about 150 entries each year. Rochester Riverside won the Building for a Healthy Life award and the supreme national Winner of Winners in 2020.
Awards are given each year for schemes with planning approval but not occupied (Project) and those which are occupied and at least 25% built out (Completed). There are specific awards for Masterplanning from Homes England which went in 2021 to Legal and General for its development of new houses in Bristol’s Lockleaze suburb which managed 30% more homes through replanning parking, as well as for senior housing schemes promoted by Housing LIN – there were 2 HAPPI awards in 2021 for schemes in Cheltenham and Bristol.
There are a number of award categories championed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – for PRS, MMC and for the scheme which is the best complement to existing development, the Good Neighbour Award, an award presented each year by the housing and planning minister. The minister also presents the Winner of Winners.
Whilst the Housing Design Awards continues to recognise schemes that deliver great residential architecture, we are now in a period where progressive architects must also be reducing the carbon required to build their clients’ buildings and the carbon those buildings produce in use. From 2022 the Awards requires entrants to demonstrate how their schemes address both of these key aims for carbon reduction by stating:
- How the scheme is enabling a low-carbon lifestyle.
- Which of these assessment tools are being used in the project, i.e. Building for a Healthy Life, Up Front Carbon Assessment, Circular Economy Assessment Plan, Community Impact (Social Value) and Post Occupancy Evaluation.
The development story of winning schemes is often filmed, complete with interviews with residents. Films of more than 80 recent winners can be seen online. Entry is online using a simple standardised template that becomes a database for use by government departments and agencies as a resource of current housing practice. Go to hdawards.org to see films of recent winners or to enter 2022’s process which will end with awards presentations from July through to October at regional events connected to awarded schemes to assist marketing and learning.