The category honours the very best regeneration projects across the UK and the awards showcase the best services that have helped so many get onto the property ladder. The Chrysalis consortium at Stanhope successfully fought off three worthy competitors, also shortlisted in the ‘Best Urban Regeneration Project’ category.

 

A panel of judges including Sarah Garrett, managing editor of the magazine and Anne Ashworth, editor of The Times, Bricks & Mortar, shortlisted the nominations in mid February, after which time readers voted for the winners. The awards were presented by Phil Spencer, from Channel 4’s ‘Location, Location, Location’ and were supported by The Times and Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity.

 

The Stanhope neighbourhood is undergoing a £150 million regeneration after a 30-year PFI contract was signed with Ashford Borough Council in 2007. The Chrysalis consortium comprises Gleeson Capital Solutions, Nationwide Commercial and Moat. The contractors for new build / refurbishment are Denne Construction, part of the Leadbitter Group, and for repairs and maintenance are Powerminster Gleeson Services.

 

By 2012, this massive regeneration project will see the refurbishment of 323 homes and the replacement of seven blocks of apartments with 442 new high quality homes. Seventy percent of these (309 homes) will be available for rent or shared ownership through Moat, while thirty per cent (133 homes) will be for sale on the open market through Gleeson Homes & Regeneration South.

 

Mike Baker, operations manager for the Chrysalis consortium, says; “We are delighted to win this award and raise the profile of what is a truly outstanding urban regeneration project. Together with residents, we are making great progress at Stanhope. The fact that this award was voted for by readers means that the project is not just impressing those within the industry, but more importantly, it is appealing to the general public as an attractive place to live.”

 

The Chrysalis consortium comprises PFI-focused Gleeson Capital Solutions, Moat, delivering affordable housing and housing management services and Nationwide Commercial, who are funding the scheme. Nationwide Commercial and Gleeson Regeneration are partners in the successful regeneration project at Grove Village in South Manchester, a £103m eight year programme which was the first substantial Local Authority housing PFI, with a similar HRA structure to the Ashford PFI.

Moat is a housing association providing affordable homes in thriving communities for people in the South East. For over forty years, Moat has delivered high quality general needs homes for affordable rent, supported accommodation and tenancy support services, and has a strong affordable home ownership offer.

 

Moat is one of the Homes and Communities Agency’s development partners and is also the government’s appointed HomeBuy Agent in Essex, Kent and Sussex. Employing 450 people, Moat provides excellent customer service to residents of our 20,000 affordable rented and shared ownership homes.

 

In the South, Moat owns and manages over 7,700 homes across 21 local authority areas in Kent and Sussex. Moat is a partner in Kent Homechoice, the choice based lettings scheme for all of the local authorities in Kent; and Sussex Homemove, the choice based lettings scheme for the local authority areas of Adur, Brighton & Hove, Chichester, Lewes, Rother and Wealden.

 

Moat is an active partner in the Stanhope and Christian Fields regeneration projects and is involved in providing affordable homes at Brighton, Crawley, the Medway towns and Thames Gateway.