Awards: Morris & Spottiswood, Merseyway, Livingcity, Contour
The Co-operative Group named ten winners of its 2013 Property Awards at a ceremony at Event City in Trafford hosted by Gary Lineker. The dinner raised more than £315,000 from Co-op suppliers for the Carers Trust. The money takes the figure the Co-op generated for its charity of the year to almost £4m. Around 800 guests attended the supplier-funded event, which was launched in 2011 to "recognise suppliers' support and reward the winners for their specific contributions." There were 150 nominations for this year's awards across ten categories. The 10 award winners were:
- Best newcomer: ISS Front of House
- Driving step change: McLeod & Aitken
- Best Service Provider: Sodexo Prestige
- Innovation and technology: Linde
- Environmental sustainability: Epta
- Risk management: Metro Safety
- Excellence in partnership working: Rapleys
- Outstanding individual of the year: Cherry Garbett, Scottish Power
- Lifetime achievement: Jo Kelly, Sodexo
- Outstanding organisation of the year: Morris & Spottiswood
The awards ceremony was hosted by Match of the Day host Gary Lineker and Countdown's Rachel Riley, whilst comedian Dara O'Briain handed out the awards. The evening also included a celebrity version of TV gameshow Catchphrase, hosted by Roy Walker and featuring former footballer Matt Le Tissier.
The Livingcity Group, the Manchester-based property and asset management firm, was highly commended at this year's ARMAQ Awards. ARMA is the foremost trade association for residential managing agents in England & Wales. Employing over 100 people at its Manchester head office and onsite, The Livingcity Group provides a comprehensive range of services for its clients which include major developers, financial institutions and investors who use the company to manage all aspects of residential, mixed use and commercial buildings, primarily in the North West and also across the UK.
Mark Gallimore, managing director, commented: "Recognition of this kind is always a real boost. The whole team works tirelessly and we believe passionately in what we do. Being highly commended at such a prestigious event is testament to that and our focus is to now carry on making a difference to our clients and adding value to our tenants and occupiers."
Margaret Connor, customer governance manager at Salford-based Salix Homes, is a finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category of the Women in Housing Awards. Margaret has spent more than two decades working in the housing sector. Salix said her current role has seen her transform customer engagement at the organisation and empower tenants to have their say enabling them to improve their homes and communities for the better. The Women in Housing Awards recognise the achievements of women working within the housing sector from across the UK. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester on 6 November.
The St Mary's housing development in Oldham, delivered by Oldham Council and Contour Homes, part of Symphony Housing Group, won the Royal Town Planning Institute North West Planning Achievement award for 2013. This recognition by the RTPI marks a remarkable change in fortunes for the site, which is on the fringe of Oldham town centre, as it had been empty for more than a decade following the demolition of flats. In 2010 the council's planning committee approved a development with 93 dwellings, 41 shared ownership, 52 social rent, made up of two, three, four and five bedroom properties designed by Oldham based architects Nicol Thomas. Work was completed in 2013 and families are now enjoying their new homes. The scheme includes four homes built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 and two Passivhaus homes.
Stockport shopping centre Merseyway is shortlisted for the British Council for Shopping Centres' Gold Award for Sustainability. In 2010, under new management by commercial property advisers GVA, the 380,000 sq ft centre carried out an audit of its energy use and concluded that big improvements could be made to reduce costs and the impact on the environment. Under a new plan old boilers were replaced, water consumption reduced and sensor-controlled lighting fitted. Energy costs dropped – overall electricity use was reduced by 26.35%. As Merseyway is built over the River Mersey, supported by 59 columns, it is home to a roost of Daubenton's bats. According to the Environmental Agency, the roost of around 100 bats is thought to have settled after past Merseyway tenants sited their air conditioning units on the riverbank, creating a suitable habitat. Merseyway controls access to the river bank and has been working with the Environment Agency to ensure the roost is protected and continues to thrive. The awards will be announced at a dinner at the Grosvenor Hotel, London on 4 December.
