A GB Building Solutions' site has just been listed as one of the top 18 developments in the UK in 2009 at the recent Considerate Constructor awards having been shortlisted as 'The UK's Most Considerate Site'.

The development was the Willowmere Extra Care Village in Cheshire, for which GB also won a Gold Considerate Constructors award for "demonstrating exceptional levels of consideration to others during the construction process".

There are thousands of new developments every year, of which 580 award winners were eligible for inclusion for this award but only 18 were shortlisted, with GB classified as runner up. GB Building Solutions also won a number of Considerate Constructor's awards for other sites completed in 2009, including two gold awards, one silver and four bronze.

The outstanding factors that made the GB sites stand out were its firm commitment to environmental protection and community support and engagement.

The Willowmere scheme, for example, was a new build care home built in a residential area, adjoining a school. Because the scheme was a community project, GB went to lengths to involve the people living locally: GB created a strong involvement with the neighbouring primary school; the GB site team converted an ageing IT room into a state of the art library at the Primary School. Four of the school's pupils helped to design the new library and their designs were combined to create a final plan. GB staff also created projects alongside the pupils, staged a 'Green Day' environmental event at the school and voluntarily landscaped pathway areas around the school.

-- Advertisement --

Other community support included tree removal and other small works for residential neighbours, and assisting elderly people with rubbish removal and disposal. While on the site, GB exceeded a target of 60% use of recycled or sustainable materials, implemented extensive measures for energy saving and recycled wherever possible.

Willowmere was one of five extra care schemes across Cheshire that made up part of a £65million PFI scheme, built for 'avantage' and Cheshire County Council, and comprised the biggest timber-framed development in Europe.

Willowmere consists of 71 one-and two-bedroom apartments for people over the age of 60 who wish to have an independent lifestyle and continue to own or rent their own homes but who need a some additional care and support.

Martin Smout, chairman and chief executive of GB Building Solutions said: "Being awarded a gold Considerate Constructors award is an accomplishment, being shortlisted as 'The UK's Most Considerate Site' is a real achievement.

"Taking into consideration the needs of our clients but also those of the surrounding community is of paramount importance to us, and these awards are recognition of our ability to listen to the needs of the people we work with, understand their needs and then deliver to the highest quality."

GB has successfully delivered over £250m of care home projects over the past five years for both councils and care home providers and the construction of care homes is rapidly becoming a core sector for GB Building Solutions.