Member Article

Newcastle housing scheme wins top award

A UNIQUE Tyneside housing scheme which combines traditional community values with modern sustainability has won the country’s most prestigious award.

The Malings at Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle was last night (11 July) announced the Supreme Winner at the Housing Design Awards, following a detailed and intensive judging process.

This is the latest award for the £14m private residential scheme by Carillion igloo Ltd, which previously was named as Project Winner at the 2013 awards.

And taking the main prize at the awards – which are acknowledged as the most important and distinguished in the industry – is further praise for a scheme which has been built on a commitment to “quality, design and sustainability.”

The Malings beat competition from across the country to take first prize, including many major schemes in London, Hampshire, Birmingham and Bath.

The scheme is now being held up as an example of best practice, having fulfilled the major criteria for the awards; “to explain what residents think about innovative design and whether it can be replicated.”

David Roberts, Director at igloo said receiving the award was confirmation of the importance of the scheme as an exemplar on the national stage.

“We were attracted to the possibility of building new homes in the Ouseburn Valley, but recognised the challenges this would give us - industrial sites, gritty urban character, sensitive riverside ecology,” he said.

“Our approach is always the careful selection of architects working with the community and the result at The Malings has been homes that people love, significant quantifiable value generation and a genuine contribution to this important part of Newcastle.” The Malings development comprises 76 homes, ranging from one bedroom flats to four storey tower houses, all built to take advantage of natural light and to minimise energy consumption along with a whole range of other factors, aimed at promoting low-energy living.

Residents are encouraged to be environmentally friendly and are aided in this by measures including bicycle storage spaces, micro allotments, systems to collect rainwater and areas for communal recycling.

At the same time the layout of the development has created a real sense of community, which sees residents holding events and regular get-togethers.

The creation of the Malings – on the site of the old Maling Pottery – is part of the revival of Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley which now houses the city’s creative quarter in what was once a heavily industrialised area.

The development – designed by leading architects Ash Sakula - is situated in what has been named one of the 10 most fashionable places to live in the UK, part of the reason why some residents have relocated here from other parts of the country.

This includes Claire Harper and her partner James Perry, who relocated from London to Newcastle last summer and set up their architecture practice, harperperry.

“We graduated from Newcastle University in 2008 - straight into the recession and ended up moving to London for work,” said Claire.

“We’d always hoped to move up to the North East but never quite found the incentive and in some ways the Malings was that.

“We’re big fans of the architects, Ash Sakula, and when we heard that they were involved with igloo and designing housing for the Ouseburn it seemed like the stars had aligned.

“Living in the Ouseburn valley, the rehearsal rooms, the Tyne Bar, the scrap yard crane - all of them are unique to our little part of the world.

“And we have great neighbours too. Wherever we’ve lived before we’ve certainly never lived anywhere surrounded by so many people who genuinely love where they live.”

The Malings has been built on land owned by Newcastle City Council and the Homes and Community Agency, who are delighted the scheme has now gained national recognition.

Pat Ritchie, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council, said she was delighted the development had received such positive recognition.

“The Ouseburn Valley has a strong sense of community and heritage, dating back to the start of the Industrial Revolution,” she said.

“By working in partnership, we have built on this sense of history and community spirit to create attractive low energy, eco-friendly homes that meets the needs of our residents and supports the ongoing development of the area.

“The Housing Design Awards are one of the most distinguished accolades that any housing development can receive. Rooted in the creation of the NHS, they are not just about building houses, but about creating good homes and decent neighbourhoods.

“We are both pleased and very proud of what we have achieved and that The Malings has been recognised with a second Housing Design Award.”

The final 17 properties are due for completion in spring 2017, with only eight of the entire development left to sell.

For further information visit www.themalings.co.uk

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