The judges thought this was an exceptionally strong set of finalists, setting high standards for the entire industry in areas such as customer care. Circle 33 won the award in this category, sponsored by Bank of Scotland

Winner


Circle 33

The London-based registered social landlord completed its largest and most diverse build programme of 659 homes over the past year. The housing association has diversified its output, developing general needs, shared ownership, key worker, commercial and outright sale properties.

Key achievements

  • being selected as a programme partner by the Housing Corporation and winning a £30m allocation
  • selling its first two outright sale schemes
  • entered joint venture with Willmott Dixon to develop more homes for outright sale
  • increased its development activities outside the capital, winning a competition to provide 250 mixed-tenure homes at sites in South Cambridgeshire

Judges’ comment: “Their customer satisfaction rating was impressively high, and the association also boasts a very diverse output to address a range of housing needs”

Finalists


Gallions Housing Association

Key achievements

  • Exceeded all its sales targets in first year as a provider of Low Cost Home Ownership properties
  • Adopted innovative funding solutions to provide new homes in its Thamesmead area
  • Extremely high levels of customer satisfaction

Judges’ comment: “Within Thamesmead, Gallions is clearly innovating in many different ways. One to watch”

Hanover Housing Association

Key achievements

  • Working with Durham council to provide six ExtraCare housing schemes
  • Innovating in a specific market sector, ie, housing for the elderly
  • Partnering down the supply chain

Judges’ comment: “This is a market that is going to grow and they are at the cutting edge”

London & Quadrant Housing Trust

Key achievements

  • Built 700 new homes for rent and more than 300 homes for affordable home ownership through its Tower Homes brand.
  • Bought and renovated more than 400 homes for lease-back to London councils to help solve the problem of getting families out of bed and breakfast accommodation
  • On target to meet the Decent Homes Standard for all its 33,000 homes

Judges’ comment: “They are a very consistent performer with a very active programme of work”

Network Housing Group

Key achievements

  • Is producing 300 units a year
  • Has developed community induction days, to introduce neighbours to each other and their local services
  • Delivered the groundbreaking Pimlico Village project in central London

Judges’ comment: “The design of the Pimlico Village scheme is excellent, and Network show a laudable emphasis on sustainability”

Sunderland Housing Group

Key achievements

  • Modernised more than 10,000 homes in a year
  • The country’s largest large-scale voluntary transfer, formed three years ago, released its first new homes for rent and sale
  • Recruited an additional 25 apprentices, taking the total number on its four-year apprenticeship programme to 100 at any one time

Judges’ comment: “What they have achieved is absolutely incredible, in taking on that stock, upgrading it and keeping customers happy. They present rent as being equal to purchase, and not as second-best”

Building Homes Quality Awards 2004