New Fylde Housing shortlisted for Excellence

Published by lpriest for Progress Housing Group in Housing and also in Communities

New Fylde Housing has been selected from more than 250 entries in the 2011 UK Housing Awards. The association has been shortlisted for the prestigious awards for its regeneration of the Heyhouses estate in Lytham St Annes.  The awards are now in their 15^th year and recognise outstanding work in housing, which improves the lives of people and their communities.

New Fylde Housing is now one of six left in the running for the Regenerating Communities category, which highlights the work that housing organisations do to support the physical, social and economic development of communities and neighbourhoods.

The regeneration of the estate in Lytham St Annes included demolishing over 80 flats and replacing them with 116 new, high quality homes for affordable rent, and improvements made to the existing 60 homes retained on the estate and the local infrastructure.  In addition the scheme also kick started the regeneration of the adjoining park.

The Heyhouses estate has also benefited from the introduction of environmentally friendly features such as solar thermal roof panels, photo voltaic arrays, low energy boilers, heat recovery and ventilation to all homes and rain water harvesting.  All have significantly helped in minimising resident’s fuel bills and tackling fuel poverty head on.  The entire estate, old and new, has also been commended by the Police for its high quality, safe and secure accommodation aimed at reducing the risk of crime. 

The UK Housing awards are organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), and are considered one of the most prestigious awards in the housing sector, attracting phenomenal responses with submissions from all over theUK.

Eric Tamanis, Managing Director of New Fylde Housing said: “It's a great achievement being short-listed for this award. This demonstrates the fantastic progress made in regenerating the Heyhouses estate. The success of this scheme is a great example of partnership working between the Homes and Communities Agency, local stake holders and residents and I want to take this opportunity to thank all those involved."

CIH Interim Chief Executive, Grainia Long, said: “I am delighted that as we celebrate the fifteenth year of theUK housing awards the calibre of entries is as excellent as ever. We hear much about the need for innovation in housing - the shortlisted finalists are examples of going beyond ideas - putting innovation into practice.  Well done to all of the finalists”

Stuart Macdonald, editor of Inside Housing, said: ‘The quality of the entries rose again this year so even to get this far is an amazing achievement. In the face of some really stiff competition, New Fylde Housing has shown it is performing at the highest level - well done!’

The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on 9^th November and will be hosted by Michael Portillo, broadcaster and former politician. The awards are sponsored by United House, Apollo Property Services Group, Devonshire Solicitors, Kier Building Maintenance, Welsh Assembly and The Scottish Government. Last year over 700 people attended.

New Fylde Housing worked with a number of partners to deliver the scheme, including Southdale, Croft Goode architects; Poole Dick associates the Ormerod Trust, Friends of Waddington Park and Priestly Johnson Ltd. The scheme received funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and Fylde Borough Council.