Lord Rooker at NHIC 2008 Awards

UK housing stock has to last over 1000 years says Lord Rooker at National Home Improvement Council's 2008 Awards Lunch.

Lord Rooker, a previous shadow housing spokesman, says: " According to my calculations the average house in this country has got to last well over 1000 years.

That's a very long time during which it needs to be continually improved to meet the ongoing demands for greater energy efficiency and changing lifestyles".

He was making the presentations at the National Home Improvement Council's 33rd Annual awards luncheon in London, hosted by its President the Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP.

Lord Rooker continued: "Building 150,000 new high-tech homes a year is not going to make much difference to energy efficiency in the rest of the country.

Tackling the existing stock's efficiency is absolutely fundamental and that's something we could do a lot better.

You do this through technology and the expertise of the industry, which the NHIC represents".

Nick Raynsford pointed out that when the NHIC was set up in the 1970s "the housing stock in Britain was in very much worse shape than it is today.

There are still very considerable challenges to improve our housing stock today and the need for organisations such as the NHIC are as great as they were 30 years ago.

"But the agenda is changing because whereas in those very earlier years we were focusing on the poor physical condition of the existing housing stock, now we are thinking as much about its energy efficiency and meeting the new priorities in the world today".

While the NHIC Annual Awards scheme remains a leading event, especially in the social housing calendar, for various reasons this year's submissions were not so prolific.

Nevertheless, each one brought its own special significance to the competition and proved that, even in difficult times, the nation's innovativeness always sparkles.

This year the Awards were presented by Lord Rooker at a special luncheon in London on 20th November, hosted by the NHIC's President the Rt Hon Nick Raynsford, MP.

Brief details of the winning schemes, the runners up and the judges' comments appear below:.

Category 1.

Local authority and registered landlord's - completed modernisations.

Sponsor: Ideal Standard.

Winner: Hillingdon Homes .

Analysis of Hillingdon Homes' housing stock showed that 3465 dwellings (approximately 30% of the stock) were non-decent at April 2003 and a further 3680 would become non-decent within five years and 1833 within ten years (an additional 50%).

It set up a four-year framework to derive benefits from long-term collaboration, with the aim of delivering the works at an agreed cost and quality whilst seeking continuous improvement.

Delivering this GBP65m programme is using the skills and expertise of a number of external partners.

With different companies, each with their own operating procedures, a number of local initiatives were agreed to ensure they worked as one team to the benefit of residents.

At its peak during 2006/07 it completed 1159 new kitchens, 1172 new bathrooms, new windows to 391 properties, new doors to 1077 properties, 278 new boilers and adapted bathrooms to 311 properties.

The fitting of efficient modern boilers gave residents a reduction in their energy bills.

This programme was designed from the outset to be responsive to the needs of residents by using Resident Liaison Officers (RLOs).

Individual needs and choice were high on the agenda.

Residents were not only involved in selecting both colour and style of units but also in the design and layout of their new kitchens.

The individual work programme was tailored to the specific needs of the residents and their families working around doctors' appointments, careers and so on.

The judges' comments.

This was a fine example of an amicable public and private partnership which greatly benefited the tenants.

Consultation was a high priority and every effort was made to totally involve all residents in selecting their preferred colours and styles.

Also the elderly were not expected to suffer any disruption caused by the refurbishment.

Runners up: Bournemouth Borough Council and First Choice Homes.

Category 2 .

Housing Association Modernisations.

This year's Category 2 takes the form of a special Award by the Electrical Contractors' Association for the housing association that in the view of the sponsor has adopted an innovative approach, in conjunction with the principle of partnering, which could be replicated by other housing providers.

Winner: Hillingdon Homes .

Category 3.

Training Achievement.

Sponsor: The Bathroom Academy.

Winner: Planit Fusion.

The goal was to create for the Bathroom Academy a comprehensive introduction to the exciting world of computer aided design (CAD) and a generic guide to be part of the Academy's Bathroom Studies Certification Course.

In creating the guide the company has brought together different areas of the industry - bathroom, shower, furniture, tile manufacturers, radiator, tap and accessory suppliers for whom it creates real images, so that the bathroom designer can use his/her imagination during the creation process and then show the results photograhically to the prospective customer.

It has also made it possible to "walk the customer through" their new dream living space, alter the layout before their eyes, change the colour, change the tiles - all in an instant! It provides the flexibility to get it right.

Planit Fusion says the home improvement industry is a great place to grow up in where many rewarding careers are in progress, have been completed and are yet to begin.

It mostly demonstrates to the young that this is a 'cool' business! A place for the future; fabulous new products being launched regularly, a place with issues to address such as energy saving.

A place with great people, great designs, art, sculpture and a place with attitude.

The company is working and developing further relationships with subsidised software to aid their CAD training courses.

Also it's working with the NTG in the kitchen industry to provide enhanced levels of education.

The judges' comments.

An inspirational concept that should go a long way to encouraging young people, in particular, to become part of an extremely important and progressive industry.

Also it makes the essential role of the designer and specifier considerably more effective in accessing and implementing the latest and most efficient products and services for successful bathroom improvements .

Category 4.

The best brownfield site or recycled building project.

Sponsor: Federation of Master Builders.

Winner: Places for People.

Places for People is one of the UK's largest housing, regeneration and property management groups and a major national developer.

Wolverton Park is an historic, former railway works just three miles outside of Milton Keynes.

Its redevelopment is set to provide 300 homes on a 10.5 acre site running alongside the Grand Union Canal, including shops, offices and a proposed restaurant/pub and a beautiful green open space.

The new community will help create a viable and sustainable neighbourhood with a mix of homes, including a proportion of affordable homes for local people, as well as new business opportunities.

Every property benefits from the inclusion of a fully fitted kitchen and most apartments have integrated appliances.

The apartments have an EcoHomes "very good" rating, helping to reduce their carbon footprint.

The development represents 'the next generation of housing' making a positive contribution to the environment and the way people live through the production of renewable energy using wind turbines and solar thermal.

The latter has been developed specifically for the homes while the former have been developed to be highly efficient, quiet and beautiful.

As part of Place for People's GBP15m Green Spaces for People programme, Wolverton Park will receive a GBP100,000 green park as part of a nation-wide project aimed at improving people's local environment.

The judges' comments.

A mixed project addressing affordable homes built to high levels of energy efficiency.

Excellent build quality with low carbon footprints the project concentrates on a community project catering for many needs whilst endeavouring to retain the best features from the original site.

Although a tough job with various problems, it's an inspiration for others to follow.

Runners up: Jan Hughes Construction and Tenants First Housing.

Category 5.

Domestic gas safety including CO awareness.

Sponsor: Council for Registered Gas Installers.

Winner: Cannock Chase Council.

Cannock Chase Council has a housing stock of around 5,600 units.

The gas-servicing programme covers approximately 5,000 units.

Traditionally the council carried out gas servicing annually but had a number of properties where access problems left a number without a valid certificate.

Thus a ten-month programme cycle was introduced and access procedures reviewed.

Last year the council delivered 'Gas Safety in the Home' awareness training for all related housing and repairs staff and tenant groups.

The training programme has now been modified and extended to various partnering contractors.

In order to encourage co-operation and keep its tenants safe, awareness of gas safety related issues have been raised by the production of the tenants' leaflet 'A Guide to Servicing and Safety of Gas Appliances in Your Home'.

Gas safety checks are carried out whenever a change of tenancy occurs.

A new procedure has been introduced this year to ensure that when a property becomes void the gas maintenance contractor completes a gas safety check within 24 hours.

Another new procedure is specifically for 'mutual exchanges'.

The gas maintenance contractor carries out a two stage gas safety check on the day of the exchange to ensure the gas installation is checked and 'spin capped' prior to the outgoing tenant leaving the property.

A new Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued to the new occupier.

The judges' comments.

This is a comprehensive package of gas safety measures.

Once more it highlights the success there can be in setting up partnering arrangements with private sector involvement.

Also it underlines the advantages to be gained from raising awareness and providing training programmes for all parties involved, especially tenants.

Runners up: Glasgow Housing Association and Kirklees Housing Association.

Category 6.

The best application of a renewable energy system.

Sponsor: Shuco International UK.

Winner: Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust.

A sustainable suburban development of six dwellings Elm Tree Mews ,York, comprises four, 3-bedroom five persons houses - one full sale, one shared equity sale and two affordable rented; one, 1-bedroom two person ground floor flat - affordable rented; and one, 2-bedroom three person duplex flat - shared equity sale.

The objectives of the scheme were: to provide good quality homes of mixed tenure and type in the garden village of New Earswick; to demonstrate a model for sustainable 21st Century housing; to incorporate high energy efficiency and renewable energy systems; to utilise a contaminated and redundant former petrol filling station and garage site, more recently operating as a used car showroom; and to achieve a high 'Excellent' EcoHomes score.

To achieve these objectives a national design competition was held in 2005; this was won by Cole Thompson Anders (CTA), designers of the Integer House at BRE Watford.

In addition an independent report was commissioned on low carbon heating options for the scheme which led to the decision to incorporate an integrated package of heating and hot water systems comprising a ground source heat pump (GSHP) and solar thermal panels.

The scheme also allows for the future addition of photovoltaic panels when technology and costs improve.

The solar thermal panels supply heat to the hot water cylinders but is not measured for billing purposes so is 'free' to the occupiers.

New Earswick was started by Joseph Rowntree in 1902 and has been steadily developed over a century and is a fine example of the garden city style of development.

The majority of the properties are let at affordable rents.

The judges' comments.

A most excellent and comprehensive solution.

A well rounded project indeed, embracing the key elements of renewable energy and addressing cost effective energy efficiency.

It provides other housing authorities with a successful model that is infinitely repeatable elsewhere in the UK.

Runners up: Ecolution Renewables and Micro-Generation Systems .

Category 7.

Roofing excellence.

Sponsor: National Federation of Roofing.

Winner: M Camilleri and Sons Roofing .

In April 2007 Camilleri Roofing was approached to investigate the feasibility of re-roofing the Grade ll listed Rectory House at Peterson-Super-Ely in the Vale of Glamorgan.

A detailed inspection and survey concluded that water ingress was an ongoing problem and there had been large scale repair work.

Distinct areas of Ffestiniog and Penrhyn natural Welsh slates could be seen and this proved to be the original roof detail throughout - alternate four course bands of the two different slate colours.

Estimates were prepared on various options to provide the client with as wide a choice as possible, whilst maintaining the coloured slate coursing feature.

Camilleri worked very closely with the Vale of Glamorgan's conservation officer, providing and discussing the slate samples and Welsh Canadian slate options.

Once the availability of materials and value engineering issues were considered, the Canadian slate option was chosen.

The scheme required the removal and renewal of 476m2 of existing slate coverings (pitched and vertical), felt and battens with all associated leadwork and cast aluminium rainwater goods (which required four different fixing methods due to the existing timberwork arrangements).

Lead detail requirements included pitched valley gutters, soakers and flashings to chimney stacks, horizontal box gutters, and hip and ridge cappings.

The Conservation Department also required some areas to be capped with clay roll-top ridge tiles to maintain an existing detail.

The judges' comments.

An outstanding project illustrating everything which is important about a professional approach to a serious roofing problem.

Being a listed building every attention was paid to detail yet cost savings were firmly considered at every stage including the selection of an acceptable solution to the original tiles.

Runners up: Clarke Roofing Southern and McGregor Roofing .

Category 8.

Innovative insulation.

Sponsor: Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency.

Winner: Slough Borough Council.

Door to door promotion of discounted home insulation to private tenants was launched in July 2007, which consistently booked installation for 80+ households each week, reaching more than 50% of vulnerable or priority groups.

To provide this facility EnergyCare was set up as a partnership between Slough Borough Council and two private companies.

The idea is to work systematically across the borough a street at a time to ensure maximum coverage.

A letter bearing the council's logo is posted through the door announcing that assessors are in the area and will call within 2-3 days The letter outlines the discounts available, the benefits of installing cavity wall and loft insulation and endorses the scheme.

Insulation is installed free of charge to residents over 70, disabled or in receipt of income based on benefits.

It's heavily discounted to everyone else.

In this first year 4,422 installations in 3,134 properties were carried out.

This averaged out at 85 installations per week as interest declined somewhat in the summer months.

Some 1,673 loft and 2,749 cavity wall insulations were completed saving residents some GBP663,300 in energy costs and 3,735 tonnes of carbon emissions (based on EST conversion figures).

As a result of the Energycare success in Slough, the scheme has been adopted by a further 44 local authorities with at least another seven currently showing an interest.

The judges' comments By adopting a door-to-door approach this successful solution has brought the importance of high levels of insulation right into the public arena.

Also by offering a spectrum of cost strategies from 'nil' to 'highly discounted' it makes the entire proposition of insulation much more attractive to householders.

Runners up: Fuelsavers, Leeds City Council and Wolverhampton City Council .

Category 9.

Special needs facilities.

Sponsor: Armitage Shanks.

Winner: Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Brighter Futures Housing Association.

23 Hillcrest Street was built as a typical 1970s registered care home.

The property is a two storey 'L' shaped building which had office and communal space on the ground floor, including a large hostel-type kitchen and dining area.

On the first floor there were 26 small single rooms, two bathrooms and one toilet.

In agreement with the city council, Brighter Futures drew up plans to completely remodel the first floor to provide three separate living areas, each with four en-suite bedrooms, sitting room and kitchen/dining room.

Each of the living areas would be accessible from its own 'front door' to enable the support team to have areas for women only, younger people or mixed units.

On the ground floor part of the old day centre was used to provide self-contained rooms with access for people confined to a wheelchair and for those with limited mobility.

The kitchen was completely replaced and the old dining area transformed into a modern, bright cafe and social meeting place for residents, staff and visitors.

Throughout the whole development process, careful attention was paid to providing an environment where people would feel safe.

The whole ground floor day service and accommodation were made accessible to all users, and deliberately opened out to be bright and welcoming.

Outside, the building was refurbished and the grounds opened up and landscaped.

The judges' comments.

A thoroughly comprehensive project which has provided a new dimension to an existing building by rearranging virtually every aspect of the interior to provide very special facilities for very special people.

The work was carried out successfully and cost effectively.

Runner up: Newcastle upon Tyne City Council.

Category 10.

Electrical safety.

Sponsor: Electrical Safety Council.

Winner: Saffron Housing Trust.

After taking on South Norfolk Council's housing stock, Saffron Housing Trust has worked hard to raise standards and awareness of electrical safety .

An improvements programme was focused around an original stock condition survey from which a true picture emerged that there was little option but to invest in a major electrical improvement plan.

As Saffron already had a Pre Planned Maintenance (PPM) scheme which would see every property visited once every six years this was seen as the ideal vehicle to incorporate electrical testing in the form of periodic inspections.

Information gained from these inspections has been used to ascertain a true state of electrical installations and to enable the scheduling of any maintenance, upgrades and eventual rewiring, along with fulfilling a duty of care to carry out periodic testing.

Saffron is committed to investing significant funds into electrical safety with almost GBP130k spent last year on periodic inspection alone and a further GBP150k being budgeted for electrical testing and remedial works in the financial year 2008-09.

Over and above the PPM programme, Saffron electricians test and inspect all void and mutual exchange properties prior to letting.

This ensures that an additional 250 homes are improved a year, resulting in safer homes for all new customers and their families.

The judges' comments.

It was evident from Saffron's application that they are committed to maintaining and improving standards of electrical safety and to raising awareness by working in partnership with its tenants and residents.

Saffron showed the judges that it met the electrical safety criteria set down by The Electrical Safety Council which are: electrical installations checked regularly - at least every ten years; RCD protection is provided for socket-outlets that may be used to power portable equipment outdoors; only qualified/registered electricians are used; tenants' and residents' awareness of electrical safety issues is raised; customer satisfaction is good; relevant standards complied with; and energy saving initiatives are implemented.

Category 11.

Journalist of the Year.

Sponsor: Bathroom Manufacturer's Association.

Winner: Philippa Turrel, Hamerville Magazines.

As editor and principal journalist for Kitchens and Bathroom News, Philippa has created the only regular series of "Green Issues" articles on key ecological subjects affecting kitchen and bathroom professionals.

The purpose is to educate and inform kitchen and bathroom designers and specifiers on why they should consider eco-friendly products for future home improvements.

Each magazine edition gives an overview of a pertinent topic as well as which eco-friendly products are available.

The Green Issue pages focus on a range of concerns impacting on designers and specifiers working in the refurbishment market.

These are as diverse as reducing the carbon footprint of a project, improving water and energy efficiency, home recycling and even the duty of care in the removal of waste from a site.

Each of these topics has been tied in with changes to legislation or to tv advertising campaigns.

By monitoring the response to these pages it has indicated that they generate the highest level of reader enquiries.

The judges' comments.

As this journalist and editor points out the "entire raison d'etre" of her Green Issues is to raise the profile of the ecological factors which are so much a part of good bathroom and kitchen design.

As a result designers, specifiers and installers are made significantly more aware of new products and techniques, which is confirmed by the magazine's consistently high level of reader enquiries.

George Plucknett Award This award is made at the Judges' discretion for what they considered to be the most outstanding of all the submissions for the 2008 Awards.

George Plucknett was a founder of the NHIC and he instigated much of what makes the Council so successful today.

Winner: Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust.

The judges' comments.

It was agreed unanimously that this submission was a very worthy winner of the George Plucknett accolade.

Not only was it considered a very admirable scheme but the way in which the information was presented was concise yet left no stones unturned! The various low and zero carbon technologies, which are a pivotal part of the scheme's success, are extremely well defined without being overwhelming.

Their comparative costs and contributions to the overall efficiency and cost-savings of the dwellings is well documented and would be a positive, useful guide to others contemplating a similar development.

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