City West shortlisted for national awards for flagship retrofit refurb

Published by Becki Ord for IPB Communications in Housing and also in Communities

CITY West Housing Trust has been announced as a finalist in a national sustainable housing award for the refurbishment of an Eccles tower block, which has transformed high rise living in the city.  

Following a large-scale retro-fit programme, Engels has been hailed as “one of the greenest affordable housing blocks in the country”. First built in 1960, the 10 storey concrete built tower block is the first of four to be completed by the West Salford-based housing association at its flagship Barton Village development. 

The scheme has been shortlisted in the Larger Housing Retrofit Project of the Year category of The Sustainable Housing Awards 2012, organised by Inside Housing magazine and its sister publication Sustainable Housing.

The awards scheme focuses on the best “green” social housing projects constructed in theUKand the organisations that are behind them.

Engels showcases innovative solutions to solve the issues faced by the tenants who live in the high rise block, addressing the rise in energy prices, tackling fuel poverty and making the building weather tight and thermally efficient. 

The greenest technologies have been incorporated to keep homes warm at a lower cost. These include an insulated render system and A-rated windows supplemented by an EcoPod Heating System which have seen residents’ fuels bills drop by up to 60%.                                                     

Colette McKune, Director of Asset Management for City West Housing Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved at Engels and we are delighted to have been shortlisted in the Sustainable Housing Awards.

“I would like to thank the project team and all of our partners who have been involved in the scheme, but most importantly our customers who live at Engels. Right from the start they have shown real passion and enthusiasm for the project and now they are enjoying the comfort and financial savings of the newly refurbished block.” 

The blueprint for Engels is now being rolled out on the remaining three tower blocks atBartonVillage, which are due for completion in 2014.

City West will discover if they are the winner of their category at an “eco” awards ceremony due to be held on Friday 19 October at the Hilton Hotel onLondon’sPark Lane. 

Jess McCabe, Editor of the Sustainable Magazine said: “Now in their fifth year, the Sustainable Housing Awards 2012 have, once again, been inundated with entries from the leading green organisations featuring the most innovative and impressive projects in the UK. 

“It is a fantastic achievement for City West Housing Trust’s Engels retro-fit refurbishment project to be shortlisted in the face of such fierce competition. We are thrilled to be able to host the awards ceremony that recognises the work of the housing sector’s sustainable pioneers.”

Last year nearly 600 people attended the event, which was hosted by comedian, writer, actor and environmental campaigner Marcus Brigstocke, in 2010 Mark Watson, and in 2009 Jon Snow was the master of ceremonies.                                                                                                          

The sponsors of the awards include: Breyer Group, H + H, Higgins, VPhase, Wates Living Space, Rockwool, NHBC, Profile 22, Sustainable Homes, United House and Galliford Try.