Double award success for R3 in Stirling
R3, a joint initiative between Cruden Homes (East) Ltd and Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, has successfully secured two awards at this year’s Homes for Scotland Quality Awards, which took place at the EICC on Friday (21 May 2010).
R3 represents a joint initiative, where both leading housebuilders are working in partnership with the Raploch Urban Regeneration Company (RURC) to provide 900 new homes over an ambitious 10-year plan in the Raploch area of Stirling.
At today’s awards ceremony, hosted by comedian and broadcaster Fred MacAulay and Communities Minister, Alex Neil MSP, R3 scooped two Quality Awards, one for Community Engagement and the other for Skills & Training.
Karen Armstrong sales and marketing director, Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, says: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured two Quality Awards. R3 represents one of the most important regeneration projects in Scotland, where we have worked in partnership to provide a truly holistic approach, which aside from an extensive programme of building new homes, also embraces the social renewal of the area overall – from job creation to communicating with our key stakeholders. By securing the awards within these specific categories, this demonstrates that our commitment to this approach is both being recognised and rewarded by our industry peers.”
Homes for Scotland represents the private house-building industry in Scotland, with a membership of more than 200 organisations that together provide 95% of new properties built north of the border.
The Homes for Scotland Quality Awards, introduced in 2003, are one of the most respected within the Scottish housing industry, with this year’s event attracting more than 500 senior industry representatives and with a shortlist of entrants that include several of the UK’s leading housebuilders.
Hazel Davies, sales and marketing manager at Cruden Homes (East) Ltd, comments, “The Quality Awards serve to promote best practice and this year they focused on the theme of ‘working together’ or a partnership approach between the public and private sector, so we faced some stiff competition in terms of the nominees. Our achievement in winning two awards is testament to the great efforts and commitment from the Cruden Homes and Taylor Wimpey team, and also the RURC, in driving our joint vision for R3 forward. In essence, we are effectively demonstrating that a strong partnership approach can reap success on every level.”
Situated off Raploch Road, the first phase of R3’s Stirling Bridge development comprises a substantial mix of properties by both developers, ranging from one, two and three-bedroom apartments to two, three and four bedroom homes.
The strategy for R3 has been to put the people of Raploch at the heart of the project, working with them to develop the social and environmental surroundings they want to live in for the long-term. This has been achieved by recognising from the outset that the local community is the expert on the area and including them in the decision making process via the RURC and Raploch Community Partnership.
As a long-term project, part of the regeneration of the area has been to provide employment opportunities for the community, which in turn has made a positive contribution to the local economy, through apprenticeships, training and job creation.
All properties by R3 are built to Eco-homes’ ‘very good’ standard and incorporate a number of energy saving features. Pushing forward the boundaries of environmental performance, energy use has been minimised through bio-climatic design, which optimises solar gain and day lighting, and reduces heat loss.
For further information on R3’s Stirling Bridge development, visit stirling-bridge.co.uk or raploch.com.
