A LANDMARK council housing development in Rugby has been named Residential Project of the Year.
Rugby Borough Council’s (RBC) £22million Navigation Way development won the prize at the Constructing Excellence Midlands Awards West.
The council’s construction partner Willmott Dixon walked away with the prize at the award ceremony held in Birmingham’s Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
Tenants have now moved into Navigation Way’s 60 one and two-bedroomed apartments, 20 maisonettes and 20 two, three and four-bedroomed houses.
The homes have been built to modern sustainability standards and fitted with electric vehicle charging points, solar panels and air source heat pumps.
Representatives of Willmott Dixon, Rugby Borough Council, Michael Dyson Associates, RG+P and Hadley Group at the Constructing Excellence Midlands Awards in Birmingham’s Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
Homes England backed the development with a £6.8million grant from its Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26, allowing all 100 homes to be allocated to eligible households registered on the council’s housing waiting list.
Navigation Way has now been shortlisted for the Residential Project of the Year Award at the National Building Awards, set to take place later this year in London.
Michelle Dickson, RBC’s Strategic Director for Communities, said: “We are incredibly pleased that the Navigation Way development has been recognised and won the Residential Project of the Year Award at the Constructing Excellence ceremony.
“This project has delivered new council homes within the borough and would not have been possible without financial support from both the government and Homes England.
“These high-quality homes are built with community at heart.”
Michelle Cotterill, Willmott Dixon’s Delivery Director, said: “This award recognises the true power of collaboration in delivering lasting community impact through regional framework, Constructing West Midlands.
“At Navigation Way, we worked very closely with Rugby Borough Council and our supply chain partners to transform an ageing brownfield site into 100 high-quality, sustainable affordable homes that will enable local people to thrive for generations.
“Winning Residential Project of the Year is a testament to the council’s dedication to creating a positive legacy for Rugby and Willmott Dixon’s commitment to becoming a trusted advisor and partner of choice.”
Plans to develop the former site of the Biart Place tower blocks were first approved eight years ago, after structural surveys revealed the two buildings were beyond economic repair.
Councillors voted to name the new road serving the development Navigation Way, to celebrate the role the railway and canal networks played in Rugby’s rapid industrial growth in the 19th century.
