Having been involved with the What House? Awards as a judge since 2007, I have been taken aback by some of the schemes that I have visited. During that time I have viewed some extraordinary broad ranging developments, featuring new homes designed for first time buyers, professionals, couples and families.
With a strong focus on high specification, individual design, attention to detail, and the provision of cutting-edge technology, the stylish, innovative, and in many cases, striking residential schemes that I have viewed are testament to the amazing architects, interior designers, craftsmen and builders that we have in this country.
My personal favourite What House? 2011 award winners:
1/ Hopkins Homes, Tibby's Triangle, Southwold, Suffolk - Gold in Best Brownfield Development
A development featuring 34 houses and flats in the heart of Southwold adjacent to the grade 1 listed St Edmund's Church, Hopkins Homes has developed a delightful scheme with a wide mix of stunning and spacious housing types. The standard of accommodation here is high - many of the bedrooms have en-suites and the houses in particular are tastefully designed to create a stylish and attractive place to live. I particularly like the large open-plan kitchen/dining/living rooms; a wonderful space to entertain and spend time with the family.
2/ St James Homes - Queens Acre, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire - Gold in Best House
Positioned in a convenient yet tranquil location, the houses at Queens Acre, which is within walking distance of Beaconsfield New & Old Town, are among the finest luxury homes in the country. Behind each traditional façade, is the quintessence of contemporary living, with excellent interior design, high ceilings and modern layouts, encouraging al fresco living where possible. From spacious living areas to state-of-the-art kitchens and bathrooms, the houses in this development are exceptional.
3/ Quintain Estates & Development, Wembley City, London, HA9 - Gold in Best Mixed Use Development
Quintain Estates & Development's Wembley City project is transforming 85 acres of land surrounding the national football stadium and arena in Wembley, north-west London, into a vibrant mixed-use community, helping to give the area a much needed facelift, following many years of neglect. When complete, Wembley City will form the heart of the area, with a fine mix of new homes, retail outlets, commercial space, leisure and entertaining venues. It is one of the largest regeneration schemes in the UK, creating over 5,500 much needed residential properties, a luxury hotel, an apart-hotel, an abundance of leisure and entertainment space, including a nine-screen cinema, 1.8m sq ft designer retail outlet centre, 127,000 sq ft of sports-related retail and 140,000 sq ft of restaurants, bars and cafés.
4/ United House and Londonewcastle, Arundel Square, Islington, London, N7 - Gold in Best Exterior Design, Best Landscape Design.
This stylish scheme, designed with careful attention to detail, features 146 contemporary homes which have been built to suit a wide selection of buyers, from families to young professionals. The development simply ticks all the right boxes as far as a new home is concerned, following comprehensive consultation between Islington council´s Greenspace team and the local community to ensure that something has been developed to stand the test of time.
5/ Seaward Properties, The Square, Eastgate, Chichester, West Sussex - Silver in Best Mixed Use Development
As part of a major regeneration of Eastgate, this elegant mixed-use development by Seaward Properties has helped to transform the local neighbourhood and to take local architecture to a new level. Aside from top quality contemporary homes, the development also offers a fine blend of commercial space, including shops, café, bars and restaurants.