Neil Carter, a project manager with leading residential developer Lovell, has been chosen for a top award for his exceptional work on a large-scale affordable housing development in Southwark, south-east London.

Neil has won an NHBC (National House-Building Council) Pride in the Job Quality Award recognising his outstanding management of the construction of the 72-home Harper Square redevelopment – 67 flats and five houses - for housing association Family Mosaic in Harper Road, London SE1.

Only 400 people are chosen for Pride in the Job Quality Awards – recognised as the house-building industry’s Oscars - out of nearly 13,000 eligible site managers across the UK. The award assessment process involves rigorous testing with spot checks of the construction site and candidates assessed across 38 areas of site management, including consistency in the build process, technical knowledge and organisational skills.

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Neil heads a team of up to 120 working on the Harper Square development which is set to be completed later this year and will create 50 affordable rented homes and 22 homes for shared ownership. There have been a number of technical challenges to overcome particularly on the concrete-framed main block where complex logistics were required for the installation of more than 8,000 terracotta tiles – with 178 different tile types - which clad the three- to seven-storey structure. The construction team also had to accommodate an extensive archaeological excavation at the start of the project which uncovered 11 Roman burials.

Neil, who originally began his 21-year construction career as a trainee site manager, has worked with Lovell since December 2010. "The award is an important recognition for the hard work of the whole team," he said. "What I enjoy about the job is the difference you can make and the potential to create something that lasts. At Harper Road, the site was originally occupied by a derelict block of bedsits and we have been able to transform it."

(CD/GK)