Wates strikes gold in Stevenage
The Considerate Constructor Scheme’s National Site Awards 2014 has named the £5M refurbishment of 1500 council homes in Stevenage, by Wates Living Space, as a Gold award winning site.
The affordable housing contractor carried out the works on behalf of Stevenage Borough Council and improvements included replacement kitchens, bathrooms, boilers and electrical rewires. All properties were completed to a high standard, on time or ahead of schedule.
The awards pay national recognition to the UK’s most considerate sites and judges were impressed with how seriously Wates took its community responsibilities during this project, noting the additional time and resources the company invested for the benefit of Stevenage.
Wates makes a commitment to providing added value to the communities in which it works; in addition to the creation of employment and training opportunities, a number of initiatives were undertaken in Stevenage by Wates, including a new kitchen for YMCA, a new garden for school children with ponds and a rabbit warren and regular support.
A community investment working group was also set up in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council as a forum for community project implementation as part of Wates’ legacy to the residents of Stevenage - an example of once such project was refurbishment of the Mead Way Park playground.
Phil Sperring, Business Director at Wates Living Space, commented: “In addition to providing a high quality of workmanship, we endeavored to use our presence in Stevenage to make a positive impact on the local community. We were thrilled to learn that judges had described our overall level of consideration as outstanding.
“As a company, Wates also prides itself on how it looks after its employees and the site gained high scores for safety observation and welfare facilities. We are really proud of everything we have achieved in Stevenage and to receive a respected industry accolade for our contribution here makes it all the more rewarding.”
Councillor Ann Webb, Executive Member for Housing at Stevenage Borough Council, said, “I am delighted to hear about this award, and I offer my thanks to everyone who does such a good job in improving and maintaining our council houses. Providing high quality housing is a priority for this Labour-run council but it is even more important for the people that live in these houses. Our tenants tell us that they are pleased with the work that we’ve done in their homes with Wates and I’m sure they will also feel that the award is well-deserved.”
