Scottish Home Awards go from strength to strength

SCOTLAND'S most prestigious property awards programme has launched for a third year with a promise to showcase the best in new-build housing across Scotland.

The Scottish Home Awards 2010, sponsored by Ros.gov.uk, is now open for entries from a diverse range of housing covering slick city apartments to rural conversions and affordable homes.

New categories for this year include Designer House of the Year, for the "grand designs" of house building, and Rural Development of the Year.

Sales and marketing teams are also rewarded with a category designed to recognise innovative and creative efforts to encourage buyers into the market, while housing associations are invited to enter in two new categories for large and small affordable housing projects.

• Glaededale Capital's Quartermile won City Apartments of the Year

These new awards are joined by the usual favourites which together make up 18 categories covering the breadth of the industry.

Sheenagh Adams, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland and member of the judging panel, commented: "We are proud to be sponsoring The Scottish Home Awards. The diversity and range of developments is very exciting and we look forward to reviewing the entries."

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil, said: "Even during an economic recession, Scotland's housing industry is to be applauded for its resilience in the face of challenging operating conditions.

"These awards are important because they celebrate the achievements of many talented people throughout Scotland.

"We should all be proud of the fact that Scotland has a well-earned reputation for building houses to high standards that incorporate innovative design."

Malcolm Macleod, director of NHBC, and also a member of the judging panel, says: "The Scottish Home Awards will once again raise the profile of the industry at a time when it is moving towards recovery after a difficult year."

The full panel of judges consists of experts drawn from the housing, design, property and construction industries and will be revealed in The Scotsman next month.

• Clockwise from right: Home Scotland took Large Housing Association of the Year; Waterside Green by Applecross was Waterside Development of the Year; Caer Amon helped AMA (New Town) Ltd win Gillespie Macandrew Housebuilder of the Year

Chair of the panel is Margo Macdonald MSP, also a member of the cross-party parliamentary group on housing. She has welcomed the launch of the 2010 programme, saying that it was important for house builders to talk positively about their achievements.

"The Scottish Home Awards is committed to promoting positive news of the many achievements in housing and entering the awards will send a strong message to customers and staff."

Winner of the Scottish Home Awards 2009, AMA, impressed the judges with three developments. Their iconic and innovative luxury housing development, Caer Amon in Cramond, won points for creative architecture. Also scoring highly was The Printhouse and one of the biggest urban renewal projects seen in the capital city, Springside at Fountainbridge.

Other winners in last year's programme included Applecross, Home Scotland, Hillcrest Housing Association, Springfield Homes, Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership and Edinburgh's Quartermile by Gladedale Ventures.

Derek McCulloch, partner of Gillespie Macandrew, who are also sponsors, said: "It's been encouraging to see signs of improvement across the house building industry over recent months; however, to continue along the path of recovery, it's vitally important that businesses take every opportunity to promote themselves in a positive way.

"I encourage all firms to enter The Scottish Home Awards, which recognise excellence in the Scottish house building industry. The industry's determination and perseverance in these difficult times is certainly cause for celebration."

Entries are welcomed from house builders, housing associations, architects and developers. Entries should consist of a written entry of up to 1,000 words and be accompanied by location plan, floor plans, specification, marketing materials and photography or CGIs. The entries will be judged by a panel of property experts which will be announced in February. All entries should be submitted before 12 noon on Thursday 1 April and the judges will announce the finalists in the Scotsman on Thursday 29 April.

Nominated developments must be in Scotland and have commenced construction between September 2008 and March 2010.

• For more details on how to enter, contact KDMedia on 0131-337 6232 or go to