The What House? Awards, currently in their 28th year, reward large, medium and small developers for outstanding achievements across the housebuilding sector, from being leaders in sustainable development to setting precedents in innovation and design. The Awards Ceremony, which took place on 20th November at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, was attended by hundreds of the UK's leading housebuilding elite.
The Housebuilder of the Year Award is the premier prize in the new homes industry. Judges focus on the quality and design of the houses built, with all aspects of the housebuilder's performance being assessed, from site presentation, to the standard of after-sales service and overall customer care. The Berkeley Group was commended for its strong financial position during the downturn in one of the industries hardest hit by the recession, the strength of its senior management and its commitment to innovation and sustainability.
It is the second consecutive year that The Berkeley Group has won 'Best Large Housebuilder' in recognition of its striking landmark developments and dedication to sustainable urban regeneration. The Berkeley Group was also awarded 'Sustainable Developer of the Year' for its commitment to "embedding sustainability within its organisation" and by "taking a holistic approach to sustainable development", delivering homes to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes in a difficult market while keeping 100 per cent of all developments on brownfield sites, which is above the UK Government's target of 60 per cent.
The Berkeley Group also received gold awards for Royal Arsenal Riverside which was named Best Brownfield Development, Grosvenor Waterside which won Best Shared Ownership Development with A2Dominion Group and Imperial Wharf which won Best Landscape Design. Other awards won were a silver award for Best Landscape Design at Beaufort Park and two further bronze awards for Best Apartment Scheme and Best Development at Grosvenor Waterside.
Established in 1976, the Berkeley Group has transformed itself from a traditional housebuilder, into a pioneering urban regeneration business undertaking residentially led, mixed use developments in London and the South East of England. Developments are delivered through its award winning divisions, which include Berkeley Homes, St George, St James Homes and St Edward Homes. Despite the challenging economic conditions in recent times, the Berkeley Group holds the strongest financial position in the UK housebuilding industry, with zero debt and a turnover close to £1 billion.
Tony Pidgley, Chairman of The Berkeley Group comments: "I am honoured to accept these awards on behalf of The Berkeley Group and our employees, without whose commitment and dedication this success would not be possible. For over 30 years Berkeley has been committed to change and innovation, evolving our business model to meet current and future demands and ensure that we continue to deliver sustainable urban regeneration and business success through hard work, a great entrepreneurial team and a passion to achieve excellence in design, quality and customer service."
The What House? Awards judges commented: "Flair and innovation in design, high levels of customer satisfaction and a commitment to sustainability long before it became fashionable keep Berkeley at the top and deserving of the new home industry's highest accolade."
The Berkeley Group's award winning projects include Gunwharf Quays, Imperial Wharf, Kew Riverside, Chelsea Bridge Wharf and Royal Arsenal Riverside, which have helped to set industry standards for sustainability, design and regeneration.