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Hillcrest Assist Architects to Win Project of the Year
Hillcrest Housing Association and Assist Architects beat off stiff competition to win Inside Housing’s most sustainable social housing refurbishment project of the year. The greenest social housing organisations in the UK were honoured at a glittering awards ceremony in London last week, hosted by Jon Snow, Channel 4 news anchorman and organised by Inside Housing magazine and its sister-publication Footprint.
John Mulloy, Hillcrest Group Chief Executive commented that “We have a strong focus on sustainability so we are delighted to be recognised in this way. This is the second award Gilmour’s Close has won this year specifically focusing on the energy efficiency aspects of the development.
“With Gilmour’s Close being a listed building in a world heritage site, the refit and the rehabilitation of the development faced particular difficulties. This project specifically tackled the difficult task of refurbishing an existing building to minimise CO2 emissions and dependency on non-renewable energy. We are very proud of the end result and are pleased to be able to offer affordable housing in one of Edinburgh’s most picturesque and vibrant areas.”
The tenants in the17 affordable homes benefit from various innovative energy efficiency features through reduced energy costs and a reduction in their carbon footprint.
Amongst the most notable of these sustainable design features is the installation of a ground source heat pump which delivers heating and pre-heated water to all of the apartments. The only energy used by Ground Source Heat Pump systems is electricity to power the pumps. Sunspaces are featured within twelve of the flats which utilise passive solar gain, re-circulating warmed air within each flat.
Andy Jack of Assist Architects commented that “With Gilmour’s Close, we set out to meet the challenge of addressing emission reductions in existing housing stock. The process was only made possible through key partnership working – Hillcrest HA, Energy Savings Trust, Historic Scotland, Communities Scotland, specialist suppliers and the design team. We were delighted to be applauded at the official opening by the Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Jenny Dawe, as an exemplar in partnership working.
“Gilmour’s Close signals the way forward in achieving sustainable social housing and how it is possible to meet the challenging targets set for the reduction of green house gas emissions.”
The judges included some very distinguished experts including Robert Napier the Chairman of the Homes and Communities Agency; Neil May, Managing Director of Good Homes Alliance; Jon Lovell, Head of Sustainability at Drivers Jonas; Simon Mcwhirter, the Head of Campaigns at WWF Homes and Alan Yates, Director of Regeneration at Accord Housing Association.
For more information on the awards visit www.insidehousing.co.uk and for further details on the project visit www.assistarchitects.co.uk
Hillcrest Housing Association and Assist Architects beat off stiff competition to win Inside Housing’s most sustainable social housing refurbishment project of the year. The greenest social housing organisations in the UK were honoured at a glittering awards ceremony in London last week, hosted by Jon Snow, Channel 4 news anchorman and organised by Inside Housing magazine and its sister-publication Footprint.
John Mulloy, Hillcrest Group Chief Executive commented that “We have a strong focus on sustainability so we are delighted to be recognised in this way. This is the second award Gilmour’s Close has won this year specifically focusing on the energy efficiency aspects of the development.
“With Gilmour’s Close being a listed building in a world heritage site, the refit and the rehabilitation of the development faced particular difficulties. This project specifically tackled the difficult task of refurbishing an existing building to minimise CO2 emissions and dependency on non-renewable energy. We are very proud of the end result and are pleased to be able to offer affordable housing in one of Edinburgh’s most picturesque and vibrant areas.”
The tenants in the17 affordable homes benefit from various innovative energy efficiency features through reduced energy costs and a reduction in their carbon footprint.
Amongst the most notable of these sustainable design features is the installation of a ground source heat pump which delivers heating and pre-heated water to all of the apartments. The only energy used by Ground Source Heat Pump systems is electricity to power the pumps. Sunspaces are featured within twelve of the flats which utilise passive solar gain, re-circulating warmed air within each flat.
Andy Jack of Assist Architects commented that “With Gilmour’s Close, we set out to meet the challenge of addressing emission reductions in existing housing stock. The process was only made possible through key partnership working – Hillcrest HA, Energy Savings Trust, Historic Scotland, Communities Scotland, specialist suppliers and the design team. We were delighted to be applauded at the official opening by the Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Jenny Dawe, as an exemplar in partnership working.
“Gilmour’s Close signals the way forward in achieving sustainable social housing and how it is possible to meet the challenging targets set for the reduction of green house gas emissions.”
The judges included some very distinguished experts including Robert Napier the Chairman of the Homes and Communities Agency; Neil May, Managing Director of Good Homes Alliance; Jon Lovell, Head of Sustainability at Drivers Jonas; Simon Mcwhirter, the Head of Campaigns at WWF Homes and Alan Yates, Director of Regeneration at Accord Housing Association.
For more information on the awards visit www.insidehousing.co.uk and for further details on the project visit www.assistarchitects.co.uk