Redrow scoops top building accolade

Redrow has reaffirmed its award-winning credentials by taking home a top honour for a stylish refurbishment project in Horwich.

Redrow’s Arcon Village beat off competition from across the region to scoop first prize in the best residential conversion category in the 2009 LABC North West regional Building Excellence Awards for its redevelopment of Arcon Village in Horwich.

In association with Local Authority Building Control, the awards seek to single out construction projects which are “the best the industry has to offer” and “exhibit best practice”.

Redrow has revitalised several stunning Grade II listed buildings at the former bleachworks to create bespoke stone-built homes steeped in character. In doing so, the company has worked closely with Bolton Council, as well as English Heritage and the University of Manchester’s Archaeological unit.

Arcon Village was put forward for the award by the local authority and Peter Smith, head of building control at Bolton Council, said: “This development is an excellent example of turning a former industrial complex into high quality residential units. Building Control and the developer worked closely to ensure compliance with the building regulations, whilst preserving the character of the existing buildings.

The development was originally an 18th century bleach works, owned by the Ridgeway Family. The family were pioneers of their time, being one of the first to use chemical bleaching during the late 18th century and also the first Bolton firm to install a Boulton and Watt steam engine, in 1798.

At its peak, the Ridgeway family’s bleach works was the second largest in the Bolton area, employing a 461-strong workforce. But in 1933, against a backdrop of mounting difficulties in the textile industry, the factory closed, bringing to an end more than 150 years of bleaching on the site. Prior to Redrow’s acquisition, the site belonged to Arcon Engineering, which was based there from 1950.

The final development will comprise 140 homes, including apartments, townhouses, bungalows and mews style cottages; and a clock tower and bell tower have been sensitively restored to their previous splendour to provide a historical focal point.

Christine Aitken, sales director for Redrow Homes (North) says: “We were delighted to win this award particularly as we’re very proud of our achievements at Arcon Village and the way we have sensitively refurbished an important part of the history of Horwich. We have succeeded in creating a new community whilst sill retaining the site’s heritage and we are grateful that the quality of the project has been recognised at this level.”

A selection of homes are currently available including mews-style three-bedroom homes priced from £174995 and stunning four-bedroom cottages priced from £249,995.

To find out more about the project log on to Arconvillage.co.uk.