Member Article

Colchester development receives top building award

A site manager at Persimmon Homes Essex is celebrating a hat-trick of prizes in a top industry award.

Simon Gronland has been awarded an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award for his work overseeing the company’s stunning Nightingale Gardens development in Colchester.

Simon, of Pebmarsh, is no stranger to success having won the prize for the same development last year – and he also scooped the award for his work on another Persimmon development in Felsted in 2006.

The gong recognises the highest standards of excellence, with National House-Building Council inspectors judging winners on meticulous and consistent attention to detail, quality of workmanship, excellent leadership, technical expertise and commitment to the highest health and safety standards.

Delighted Simon, 44, said: “You never expect to win awards like this, it’s a real honour.

“When we set the site up last year we set ourselves the target of winning this award.

“It’s terrific when you aim for something and achieve it.

“I’ve got a great team here, including assistant site manager Spencer Silverman. Everyone has worked so hard to make the development what it is today.”

More than 15,000 site managers were nominated for the NHBC prices and were whittled down to 446. The successful candidates will now go forward to 10 ceremonies across the country in September where regional winners will be announced.

A national Supreme Winner will then be announced at a glitzy ceremony in January.

Mike Quinton, chief executive of NHBC, said: “For nearly 35 years, Pride in the Job has been a fundamental component of NHBC’s work to raise standards through the celebration and sharing of best practice.

“Our winners are at the forefront of the house-building recovery, making sure that quality is maintained and improved year on year, as they raise the bar for success in the competition.”

Phase one of Nightingale Gardens, a development of two three and four bedroom homes, has now been completed and all properties have been sold.

Work on phase two of the scheme, just over the road, is due to start shortly and will consist of another 70 new two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached homes, with a lake as the central feature.

Simon said prospective buyers are already showing a strong interest.

Nightingale Gardens is ideally-located for commuters, first time buyers and families alike as it boasts excellent transport links to amenities in Colchester’s town centre, and is a short distance from the A12, the trunk road for Chelmsford and London.

The site is also conveniently located for access to main railway lines providing services to London Liverpool Street.

The site has previously been praised by the former Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester, Colin and Laura Sykes, who applauded the way Persimmon engaged with the community before starting building work.

For more information, call 01376 617 364 or visit www.persimmonhomes.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by kathy .