The company achieved Gold for their affordable housing development in Fowey, Silver for the housing scheme in St Agnes and is runner up for the prestigious title of the UK’s Most Considerate Site 2010 out of 7,600 nominated schemes.
Gilbert & Goode Construction Director, Simon Caklais, is immensely proud that the building industry has given a Cornish company such national recognition: “To be a runner up for the UK’s Most Considerate Site is an incredible achievement – we were competing with major national companies on a wide range of developments from Terminal 5 Heathrow to PFI hospitals. It is an amazing accolade for our housing schemes and a fitting tribute to the communities and partners we work with.”
Presenting the awards, Julia Evans, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders congratulated all the companies that had made the finals: “These awards are about how the contractors work in partnership with communities, looking after the environment and engaging with their staff. All the companies here today have gone far beyond their statutory requirements and improved the image of the building industry – they are an elite group of high performers.”
Gilbert & Goode won a Gold Award for its affordable homes at St Catherines View in Fowey, in addition to the accolade of ‘runner up’ for the UK’s Most Considerate Site 2010. “During our time on site we worked closely with the community and supported the local school, both with visits on site for pupils, poster competitions highlighting the potential dangers of building sites and by contributing to school facilities,” said Simon. “Considerate Constructors assessed us on various working practices including safety, cleanliness and respect for the surrounding neighbours and we were ranked in the top 1 % of construction sites nation-wide.”
Gilbert & Goode also collected a Silver Award for its £ 5.3 million housing development of affordable homes at Miners Way, St Agnes. The St Agnes school was involved throughout the construction with regular visits on site, culminating with a celebratory community event when local people moved into the homes last November. The Ocean Group also contributed to the school’s healthy eating project and Head Teacher, Carol Wint, recently wrote to Gilbert & Goode to express her gratitude: “As I watched the children emerging into the sunshine today munching away happily on the fruit you provided for them and heading towards the bench you made for them, it occurred to me that I would like very much to thank you again for all your support of our school – it’s really made a difference.”
David Renwick, Chief Executive of Ocean Group, says none of this would be possible without the very positive partnership and working relationships with Cornwall Council’s housing enabling team, planners, parish and town councils and the Homes & Communities Agency who part funded the schemes: “Together we continue to raise the quality of homes for local people in Cornwall and to employ and train staff to attain the highest standards.”
