News Categories: Awards

Sensitive restoration awarded for enriching town of Ruthin

North Wales Housing were recently presented with the 2014 Quayle Award for the redevelopment of the near derelict row of cottages on Mwrog Street, Ruthin by the Ruthin and District Civic Association.

The award, named after a distinguished local Ruthin resident, the late Professor William Quayle, is regularly presented to the owners of private, public and commercial buildings, which have enriched the town and local villages by good new design and texture or by sensitive restoration.

The Mwrog Street redevelopment was branded a worthy winner by the judges.

Miles Anderson, Secretary to Ruthin and District Civic Association, explains:

“The multi-purpose accommodation that replaces the previously derelict building has been constructed with sensitivity and to a very high standard. And the old post box has also been brought back into use. Though a modest terrace of buildings, the restoration has been accomplished to the highest quality and certainly draws the eye – with pleasure! Many congratulations to North Wales Housing Association.”

Peter Gibson, Chair of NWH’s Group Board accepted the award at an event held by the Ruthin and District Civic Association on Friday, 26th June at Llanfwrog Community Centre, Ruthin.

Paul Diggory, Chief Executive for North Wales Housing said:

“North Wales Housing are extremely happy to win this award. We are passionate about bringing empty homes back to life, helping improve communities as well as enabling new tenants to enjoy life in their new homes. We’re glad that the community of Ruthin are as pleased with the project as we are.”

Big Win for BIG Community Voice Initiative

A community engagement initiative backed by three local housing associations has won a national ‘Tenant Participation’ Award, presented in Cardiff.

Cartrefi Conwy, Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and North Wales Housing Association have been working in partnership since May 2013, as part of the ‘Conwy Together’ Project and last week their Conwy BIG Community Voice initiative won the prestigious award for annual Tenant Participation covering the whole of Wales awarded by TPAS Cymru, the Tenant Participation and Advisory.

The ‘Conwy BIG Community Voice’ initiative is coordinated by Conwy Voluntary Services Council, (CVSC) and funded by Big Lottery Funding.

Under the scheme the three housing associations have worked together providing a wide variety of events and activities to creatively to engage residents with Conwy empowering them to have a great say on services and issues affecting their daily lives.

Events ranged from family fun days and silent-cinema events to a regular community a forum with a wide range of visiting speakers.

I really enjoyed meeting councillors and politicians at the forums – I think they were surprised how much we had to say!” said Anne Rothwell, a resident at Pentre Mawr in Abergele.

Mr S. (Mitch) Mitchell also praised the forum events, saying that the relaxed atmosphere really encouraged residents’ participation in discussions.

Iwan Evans, Tenant Participation Co-ordinator at North Wales Housing said:

North Wales Housing is extremely pleased that the project has won this important award. The project has undoubtedly been a success; it has been instrumental in ensuring hard to reach tenants a voice and opinion regarding public body activity and services. North Wales Housing tenants have enjoyed the many activities and found them useful.”

David Lloyd, Director of TPAS Cymru said:

Our annual Participation Awards give us an opportunity to recognise that tenant participation changes housing services and communities for the better. The awards provide a showcase for best practice across Wales in ensuring that tenants are at the heart of housing services. It’s been great to celebrate the achievements of participation and we’ve seen some inspiring and motivational winning entries once again this year.”

Community initiative short-listed for award

A community engagement initiative backed by three local housing associations has been shortlisted for a national ‘Tenant Participation’ Award.

North Wales Housing, Cartrefi Conwy and Clwyd Alyn Housing Association have been working in partnership since May 2013, as part of the ‘Conwy Together’ Project and now their initiative has been shortlisted by TPAS Cymru, the Tenant Participation and Advisor Service in Wales for their annual award ceremony to be held in Cardiff later this month.

The project is part of ‘Conwy BIG Community Voice’ initiative coordinated by Conwy Voluntary Services Council, (CVSC) and funded by Big Lottery Funding.

Under the scheme the three housing associations have worked together providing a wide variety of events and activities to creatively to engage residents with Conwy empowering them to have a great say on services and issues affecting their daily lives.

Iwan Evans, Tenant Participation Co-ordinator at North Wales Housing said:

North Wales Housing is extremely pleased that the project’s been shortlisted. The project has undoubtedly been a success; it has been instrumental in ensuring hard to reach tenants a voice and opinion regarding public body activity and services. North Wales Housing tenants have enjoyed the many activities and found them useful.”

The ‘Conwy Together’ Conwy BIG Community Voice project has been shortlisted in the Tenant Participation Projects category of the TPAS Cymru 2015 Awards which will be announced at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff on June 25.

Innovative extra care schemes win big at top industry awards

North Wales Housing’s extra care schemes had a successful night at the recent regional Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards.

Cae Garnedd, Bangor, North Wales Housing newest extra care scheme won the county and regional Gwynedd award for ‘Best Inclusive Design Project’ whilst Hafod y Parc, Abergele won ‘Best Social/ Affordable Housing’ for the Conwy region.

K&C Construction, the team behind an innovative extra care schemes in North Wales were presented with the awards hosted at the Urban Resort Village, Chester on Friday 24th April 2015.

The LABC awards aim to celebrate excellence achieved through building standards, technical innovation and sustainable designs.

Paul Diggory, North Wales Housing Chief Executive says:

We’re thrilled with how the evening went. We’re extremely proud of our extra care schemes but receiving this industry award reinforces that.

I’d like to congratulate our construction partners, K&C who have worked collaboratively with our team through the entire design and build process, producing fantastic developments. This is definitely a well deserved win for the entire K&C team.”

Bleddyn Jones, K and C Construction Manager is equally as happy:

I am absolutely delighted that K and C Construction have received these awards and believe it is a very fitting tribute to the commitment and hard work of all the team. The success of the projects is a reflection of our strong collaborative working relationship with both Gwynedd County Council and North Wales Housing and all the consultants involved in the projects.”

The success didn’t stop there though. North Wales Housing and Pure Residential also scooped the ‘Best Social/ Affordable Housing’ for Denbighshire for the recent refurbishment of Plas Penyddeuglawdd, Pendyffryn Road, Rhyl, reputed to be one of the oldest houses in Rhyl.

Cae Garnedd will now go forward to the LABC Grand Finals on Tuesday 10 November 2015 at the Lancaster Hotel, London.