The Berkeley Group has become the first house-builder in the UK to have 500 sites registered by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS). Only six other organisations nationally have ever achieved 500 or more registered sites, all of which are contractors.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme assesses sites against five criteria: site appearance, respecting the community, protecting the environment, securing everyone's safety and valuing the workforce. Berkeley's average score in all inspections during the year ending April 2014 was 40.6 out of 50. Industry best practice is considered to be 35 out of 50.
"Considerate Constructors is about respecting the community," said Rob Perrins, Managing Director of the Berkeley Group. "If we want to deliver a massive increase in house-building, we have to do it in a way that keeps the public on side."
Berkeley Homes (Southern), pictured below, achieved a gold award for Highwood in Horsham with an overall score of 44 out of a possible 50.
The site report stated: "The first impression is that this is an exceptionally well presented and professionally managed site which has been actively involved with the local community since the project commenced.
The top 7% of sites registered by the scheme go on to win awards. In 2014, Chelsea Creek by St George and Goodman's Fields by Berkeley Homes (North East London) both won 'most considerate site' awards. Overall, one third of the Berkeley Group's sites received an award, landing 3 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze awards across all its operations.
Notes to editors:
1. The Considerate Constructors Scheme is the national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image. Construction sites and companies that register with the scheme are monitored against a Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements.
2. The Berkeley Group has built a total of 15,750 homes over the last 5 years. This includes approximately 10% of all the new homes built in London over the same period.
3. Berkeley supported 21,000 jobs in the UK in 2014, sustaining a total of 5.6 jobs for each home built.
Press Contacts:
Berkeley Group: Ashley Lovell: 01932 584629 / 07799 861590
Berkeley Smashes the 500 Barrier
11th August 2014
