‘Big tick’ for Redrow’s innovative developments

Housebuilder Redrow has come top of the class after being honoured at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The company’s affordable ‘Debut ’ range, which is aimed primarily at first-time buyers, was awarded a ‘Big Tick’ at Business in the Community’s Wales Awards for Excellence 2007, for its outstanding achievement and commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Redrow – whose headquarters are at St David’s Park, in Flintshire - has now been short-listed, alongside Barclays, Accenture, Lloyds TSB and ScotAsh, as an overall ‘Example of Excellence’ in the national TCS Marketplace Innovation award.

The winner will be announced by HRH the Prince of Wales and Vice President of the USA, Al Gore, at a gala dinner in central London on 2 July.

Redrow, which already has a string of accolades and awards under its belt, was one of just nine companies in Wales honoured for putting responsible business practice at the heart of their operations at the luncheon at the Hilton Cardiff, which was sponsored by Royal Mail.

Paul Pedley, Redrow executive deputy chairman said: “We are delighted to have received the Big Tick for our innovative Debut range, which helps first-time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, in what is a tough market.

“The homes really are affordable and attractive, and have been hugely popular across the country.”

Much of the cost-saving in Debut homes comes from the way in which they are constructed, using a lightweight structural steel frame and other modern methods of construction, which speeds up the build programme without compromising on quality.

The Debut developments have carefully managed outdoor spaces designed to create a sense of neighbourhood and the buyer pays just one monthly service charge, which includes the gas, water and electricity bills, as well as buildings insurance, external maintenance – and even the cost of window cleaning – making it easier to budget when setting up home for the first time.

Redrow also offers the Easi-buy scheme on all Debut homes, which allows buyers to defer 10% of the price of their new home for up to 10 years on a fixed sum basis, which can be paid back via occasional lump sums, monthly repayments or in whole .

The homes are also designed to minimise their impact on the environment, and the first five developments have achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating in the Eco-Homes independent assessment scheme operated by the Building Research Establishment.

Mallen Baker, marketplace director for Business in the Community said: “Debut combines creative thinking with modern construction methods to tackle the affordability crisis faced by first-time buyers priced out of the market by spiralling house prices and buy-to-let investors snapping up lower cost homes.

“I am delighted that Redrow has won a Big Tick for the TCS Marketplace Innovation Award. They are a great example that other companies in the industry can learn from.”

In a bid to be named as the overall Example of Excellence, Redrow management have made a top-level presentation to the judging panel on the impact of Debut, the benefits that it has produced, and what is new and creative about the range.

Debut schemes have been successfully completed at Rugby, in Warwickshire, Ewloe, Flintshire, Buckshaw Village in Lancashire and Sittingbourne, Kent. Current developments can be found in Lincoln; Hilton, in Derbyshire; Stoke on Trent and Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire; Chorley in Lancashire; plus Newport, Merthyr Tydfil and North Cornelly in South Wales. Further schemes are planned in Selby, North Yorkshire and Bristol. Information: debutbyredrow.co.uk.