[T]he quality workmanship of Eden builders has been recognised with eight local construction projects being nominated for Northern Region – Local Authority Building Control Awards. The awards are the Oscars of the construction industry and last year four Eden based projects qualified for the national finals.
Eden District Council’s Building Control Manager, Alaistair Richmond, said: “It is great to see the local area so well represented in the Northern Region of the LABC Awards. This reflects the high level of craftsmanship and pride that building companies and contractors take in their work. We have an array of different projects for the regional judges to deliberate over and hopefully we can collect some well-deserved Regional Awards and then we can go forward to the National Finals to showcase Eden’s excellent construction industry.”
The ceremony for the LABC Awards Northern Region is taking place in Newcastle on 15 June 2018. The projects nominated from the Eden area are:
1) Company: Carrock Homes Project: Lake House Watermillock, Category: Best Extension or alteration to an existing home:
Project comprises: A sympathetically designed extension to a Victorian property located in the Lake District National Park. The new single storey structure uses an array of local materials to reflect the existing property and sits comfortably in its garden setting affording the property’s owners superb views of the local landscape.
2) Company: IJ Curry & Son Ltd Builders Project: Bank House, Howtown: Category: Best change of use of an existing building or conversion.
Project comprises: Bank House was originally part of the famous Sharrow Bay County House Hotel. The owners of the property stayed at Bank House 35 years ago and said they would love to buy it if it ever came up for sale. This former domestic building is now a high specification residential property, created using many traditional methods, including a handcrafted steel handrail, which at the end of its newel (the supporting pillar of a spiral or winding staircase) is shaped into a ram’s head. Challenges for completing this project included Storm Desmond in December 2015, which blocked the road from Pooley Bridge to Bank House with a landslide. The workers on this project went to help the local community at Glenridding, who were affected by flooding, by digging out the beck that had burst its banks and assisting in any way possible.
3) Company: Roland Hill Ltd Project: Leith Close, Cliburn Category: Best social or affordable new housing development.
Project comprises: Building a pair of semi-detached two bedroom houses for Eden Housing Association, in an area of the Eden Valley where house prices outstrip local incomes and opportunities to build low cost and high quality homes are limited. The houses are high quality, have low running costs and are offered at affordable rents to help the local community. The use of low air permeability and solar PV will keep the running costs low for years to come.
4) Company: Architecture 519 Project: Lemming Farm, Watermillock Category: Best Extension or alteration to an existing home:
Project comprises: Leeming Farm is located close to Ullswater in the heart of the Lake District National Park. The project involved remodelling and extending an existing farm house to create a new 5,000sq ft home that retains the best traditional features and grounds space of the original buildings. The result of the project is a blend of traditional and modern techniques, so you have a snug feel of a Lakeland cottage blended with a multi-level free flowing space extension.
5) Company: JIW Properties Ltd Project: Pasture Park, Kirkby Stephen Category: Best new housing development
Project comprises: Pasture Park is a stunning new build development of three four bed properties, one house, one dormer bungalow, and one bungalow all constructed to the highest standard. The project was completed five months ahead of schedule.
6) Company: Atkinson Building Contractors Ltd Project: Plot 8 Eden Business Park Category: Best commercial project
Project comprises: Construction of a new two storey modern office block on the outskirts of Penrith. Construction of this project enabled a company looking to expand to remain in the local area, creating jobs and boosting the economy. The building comprises 110 workstations, four conference rooms, amenities including two kitchens, toilets and showers and a 50 space car park.
Atkinson Building Contractors Ltd have also been nominated for two other projects a single storey extension over an existing garage at Old School House, Shap and the Kitchen Gardens housing development in Penrith.
Each year, Local Authority Building Control in Eden District receives and deals with around 700 building regulations applications. These can vary from replacement windows to housing sites with hundreds of new homes to large commercial buildings. By obtaining professional advice and working with tradesman with the recognised industry qualifications the public can be reassured their building works are carried out to the appropriate standards.
For more information about Eden District Council’s Building Control Service visit www.eden.gov.uk/buildingcontrol, call 01768 817817, or email: building.control@eden.gov.uk
