National regeneration agency English Partnerships has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to regeneration and innovation in housebuilding, in a unique lifetime achievement award.

This one-off award, the 2008 Housebuilder Special Award, was formally presented to English Partnerships at the Housebuilding Innovation Awards, on 23 October in London, by broadcaster John Humphreys. The annual event recognises excellence in innovation in the housebuilding sector.


The Agency, which is joining with the Housing Corporation and other public sector bodies to form the new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on 1 December 2008, has seen many of its projects and partnerships acknowledged in these awards over its fifteen-year lifetime, and as such, the judges decided to make this special award and mark the occasion.

Chief Executive John Walker said: "It's a real honour for us to receive this accolade. The cornerstone of English Partnerships over the last fifteen years has been to create high-quality, well-designed sustainable places where people want to live, work and spend their leisure time. It's good to know that we are recognised in the sector for making this happen, in collaboration with our private and public sector partners, and I have every confidence that this is something the incoming Chief Executive Sir Bob Kerslake will take forward into the HCA."

(CD/JM)