Scheme scoops prestigious environmental award
Two new build housing schemes in the Forest of Dean District have been recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony held by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Gloucestershire at the Gambier Hall, Highnam, on 3 October.
The CPRE’s independent panel of judges agreed that both the Kier Partnership Homes/Two Rivers Housing 92-unit (40% affordable) scheme at Kings Lodge, Cinderford and The Guinness Partnership nine-unit (100% affordable scheme) at Whittington Close, St Briavels made outstanding contributions to the environment and to local communities.,
Forest of Dean District Council has worked in partnership with the organisations to develop the new schemes. The Council’s Cabinet Member for housing, Cllr Richard Leppington, attended the award ceremony and was delighted to collect framed certificates and plaques for each site from leading conservationist, Viscount Bledisloe.
Commenting after the awards, Cllr Leppington said: “This is a fitting reward for two excellent new housing projects. Helping to ensure their success has been a real team effort, drawing on the expertise of not only our building control staff but also the skills of our planning officers and our heritage and design specialists. Involving community representatives in the design process prior to planning application submission at both sites was also time well invested.
“What is even more impressive is that the CPRE has only presented six awards across the entire county at this event and the Forest of Dean has scooped two of them – very well done to everyone involved.”
His comments were echoed by Garry King, Chief Executive of Two Rivers Housing who added: “This was an important development that provided 37 one, two, three and four-bedroom affordable and energy-efficient homes in a popular town. It was also a fantastic opportunity to regenerate a redundant industrial site and breathe new life into the south-western fringe of the town.“
