One of the UK’s leading property development companies has scooped a prestigious award for an innovative 131-acre housing development in a vast country park.
Chelmsford-based Anderson was named as Best Large Development in the national First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards for its work at Faversham Lakes in Faversham, Kent.
The ambitious project includes 330 two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom contemporary homes set in parkland teeming with wildlife habitats, designated footpaths, reedbeds, lagoons, bird hides and orchards.
The scheme won the praise of judges for expanding on the concept of boundless living, with all of its houses embracing spacious open-plan design as well as the idea of bringing the outside in.
Project Manager Alan Clarke said: “Winning this award is a huge triumph for the whole team. This is a fabulous project to work on and offers excellent transport links, education provision and community assets which all tie into the development ethos of ‘room to grow, room to play and room to live’.”
Just last month Mr Clarke was recognised by the National House Building Council (NHBC) for excellence in on-site management at its annual Pride in the Job awards.
Now in its 41st year, a Pride in the Job award recognises site managers who demonstrate incredible dedication, passion, commitment and leadership to produce homes of exceptional quality.
He added: “Throughout we’ve placed focus on building extremely well-designed homes and enhanced existing community facilities as well as adding in further elements in the plan.”
These include redeveloping the former Oare gunpowder works and bringing forward the remaining listed buildings as a heritage centre and several retail units.
Other community assets include a new scout troop headquarters, an extended car park for the local school and a community theatre.
The First Time Buyer Readers’ Award for Best Large Development was sponsored by LSL Land & New Homes.
Anderson was shortlisted alongside five other companies, all of which had developments of more than 80 homes that are providing additional facilities to benefit the local community and surrounding neighbourhoods. These homes are in large developments in a mixed-tenure environment or stand-alone developments.
Glenn Potter, Managing Director of the Anderson Development Business, said: “We are very proud to have won this award.
“This development presents superb opportunities for first-time buyers with 35% affordable housing included along with a range of different size options and price points and access to the Help to Buy scheme.
“In addition, the works will include the restoration of eight on-site listed buildings, the creation of an ecologically-rich and biodiverse public country park and the upgrading and realignment of two local roads, with the added provision of building a new school car park.”