Jewson has announced the winners of its first ever Making Better Homes Awards, with thousands of public votes cast to decide the competition’s champions.
Launched to recognise the industry heroes who are going above and beyond in the delivery of energy efficient, safe and comfortable homes, the Making Better Homes Awards received a wealth of entries when it opened in 2023. The projects were whittled down to a ‘top three’ for each of the competition categories – Best Use of Renewable Energy in a Project, Best Building Fabric in a Project, and Sustainable Project of the Year – by an esteemed judging panel, including representatives from the Federation of Master Builders and charity Band of Builders. The shortlist was announced in February, with the public asked to decide which of the projects were most worthy of the top prizes. The winners and runners up were announced at Jewson Live, which recently took place at the NEC.
In the Best Use of Renewable Energy category, Channel Electrical Systems took first prize for its project at Oak Court, Penarth, where solar panels were sourced and installed at more than 40 individual homes, helping elderly residents to save money on energy bills.
Rob Lewis, Lead Project Manager, Channel Electrical Systems, said: “We are overwhelmed to have won in the Jewson Making Better Homes Awards, it’s fantastic. It’s been a busy year, with a lot of projects, but Oak Court was one we were particularly proud of, so we’re delighted it’s been recognised. It’s been great working with Allume Energy and Wales & West Housing Association on the project, thank you to both of them for their support, and most of all thank you to our incredible team at Channel Electrical. The Making Better Homes Awards sets a standard for the industry and we’re so pleased to be involved.”
Just missing out on the top spot in the same category, receiving a Highly Commended recognition award, was Castlethorpe Homes; its entry centred on The Paddocks, a unique new build family home with integrated renewable energy solutions and sustainable features, as well as a beautiful design in keeping with local surroundings. NR2 Community Builders took third place, for its Forest House project.
Chris Warner, Managing Director at Castlethorpe Homes, said: “Proving that you can build a good quality newbuild home in a sustainable way will hopefully empower others to do the same. I think the awards have been a really good opportunity to showcase projects up and down the country, and it just shows you that if you put energy into it, then the rewards will come.”
Taking first place in Best Building Fabric in a Project category was SIP Build UK, for its work on Munoz House in Colchester. The company was tasked with creating a highly insulated and airtight building envelope using Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) to ensure minimal heat transfer and reduce the need for excessive heating or cooling. Runner-up was Orka Construction for its work on Sandfield Park in the Wirral, and in third place was Draper Studio for its transformation of a derelict 1950s home in Peckham.
Ian Still, National Sales Director for SIP Build UK Group, said: “It’s fantastic to have taken one of the top spots in Jewson’s Making Better Homes Awards. Working with our customer Jay and his team on the Munoz House project from a very early stage helped to ensure that his dream of a Passive Haus Certified SIP home project was a success. To see Jay and his family now living in and enjoying the benefits of a Passive SIPs home is something that the SBUK team are extremely proud of, so to win this award makes the project even more special.”
Finally, in the Best Sustainable Project category, A Corner of Eden was announced as the winner for its development of Harris Hideaway, a Grand Designs-style holiday home on a remote Scottish island recognised for its outstanding eco-credentials and design features, as well as its consideration of the local environment. Greencore Homes took second place for its development of four private sale and eight affordable rental homes built in partnership with Hook Norton Community Land Trust (HNCLT) in Oxfordshire, while The Holt Group took third place for the renovation and upgrade of a five-bedroom family home in the Hammersmith area, which was packed with eco-friendly features.
Debbie Greaves, owner and co-founder of A Corner of Eden alongside husband Richard said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been recognised in the Jewson Making Better Homes Awards. We’ve worked so hard on this project over the last three years, so it means a lot. The awards are such a great way to showcase what can be done and let people know that you can build homes in a sustainable way.”
Matthew Handley, Category Innovation Manager at Jewson, said: “Our first ever Making Better Homes Awards has been an incredible celebration of all the brilliant things tradespeople and businesses working in the construction sector are doing to create a better future for us all. Every single entrant had something very impressive to share, while our winners and runners up act as examples of what can be achieved when you go a step further, and challenge the norms of construction, to create outcomes which are more beneficial to our planet.
“Our winners deserve to celebrate. Without realising it, they have achieved new levels of excellence in sustainable building, and will now inspire others as to how we should approach housebuilding in the future. Well done to everyone who has been involved in the Making Better Homes Awards – for me, it has been a privilege.”
For more information about the Making Better Homes Awards visit https://www.jewson.co.uk/making-better-homes-awards
