Alma Court Shortlisted for Inside Housing Award

We are pleased to announce our Alma Court project for Thurrock Council has been shortlisted for the Inside Housing Development Awards Best affordable housing development (less than £10m) category. This shortlist for the Inside Housing Development Awards are celebrating the very best residential developments across the UK from the past two years. Throughout the challenges of the pandemic our sector has proved its resilience; striving towards more sustainable solutions and undertaking projects that put the needs of the communities they serve above all else. Inside Housing is the leading monthly magazine for housing professionals in the UK. With its lively mix of news, features and analysis, housing professionals rely on Inside Housing to keep them fully updated on everything in the social housing world.

For the Best Affordable Homes category, the judges were looking for: how the project maximised affordability; a breakdown of the tenure on the development; how the development meets local housing need; design and sustainability features/construction methods; resident and stakeholder feedback; location and infrastructure considerations; and what is considered unique about this development that others might learn from.

Alma Court provides 29-affordable homes, as well as an 800-foot public playground. The homes are provided within a 4-storey residential block of 3-bedroom maisonettes and a 5-storey “tower” of 2 and 3-bedroom flats. The building is designed to create a neighbourhood of inter-generational families, activate the street frontage, and re-establish the building line to reconnect the adjoining neighbourhoods. A tough brief for sustainability is achieved with a fabric first approach to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs as well large areas of Photovoltaic cells on the roof, MVHR and grey water recycling.

Thurrock Council consists of an ambitious and collaborative community which is proud of its heritage and excited by its diverse opportunities and future. Situated on the north side of the River Thames bordering Essex, Kent and East London, the Council is unlocking sustainable growth, and laying the foundations for the future growth and prosperity of the area. It is determined to improve Thurrock as a place, ensuring it is providing the best services for its people whilst offering the opportunity of prosperity.

See shortlist announcement on the Inside Housing Awards webpage:
https://ihda.co.uk/shortlist/shortlist-2021

Winners of these awards will be announced at an awards ceremony in London in November.