Lovell has picked up a coveted national award for being a good neighbour at its Benwell Dene development in Newcastle.
The award recognises the efforts made by the construction team to be caring neighbours, and the benefits the development has brought to the community in Newcastle’s West End.
Lovell is working in partnership with Placefirst to bring 146 homes for private rental to Benwell.
Darren Glennie, Head of Construction for Lovell in the North East, said: “Work began on site at Benwell 18 months ago and earning our place as a true part of the community has been a priority from the outset.
“We have built a positive relationship with Bridgewater School, highlighting the need to stay safe around building sites as part of our work. This gave the children an introduction to the world of work and they designed safety posters for the site.
“We have also supported Healthworks, a charity working to improve health in people across the North East, including by transforming the garden at The Lemington Centre to make it a more attractive space.
“Our rolling work experience programme is providing placements to people in the area who are interested in pursuing a career in construction. This real-world insight gives them a sense of the opportunities available to them and how these could match their skills, driving aspirations. The placements can open doors to employment opportunities which can have a significant impact on local people’s lives.
“We have also welcomed ex-forces personnel to experience life on site as part of our commitment to Building Heroes.
“Communicating with our neighbours has been prioritised. We appreciate that building homes can cause disruption at times, in particular when there are works to be completed off-site. By ensuring everyone is aware of what is happening and when, and keeping the community safe, we can minimise any inconvenience.”
There are 120 homes currently under construction at Benwell Dene and work is due to start on the remaining homes in the coming weeks.
Don Anderson, Managing Director for Lovell in the North East, said: “The Considerate Constructors Scheme is the industry gold standard. To win a national award requires the most exemplary efforts and commitment from our colleagues from Lovell and Placefirst every day, to make sure they are having a positive impact on the world around them. We are grateful to every one of them, and to the community in Benwell Dene for being welcoming and collaborative since we arrived on site.”
Lovell has its regional office in the North East at Rainton Bridge Business Park in Houghton-le-Spring. Benwell Dene is one of a number of developments being managed in the region to provide private and affordable homes from North Yorkshire up to Morpeth.
