Birmingham City Council's green credentials have received another major boost after the 'Birmingham Construction Partnership' scooped a prestigious national award for its sustainable approach to construction.

The partnership, which comprises the council's Urban Design team, plus contractors Thomas Vale, G.F.Tomlinson and Wates, has been named the 2009 winner of the 'WRAP Award for Sustainable Construction' in recognition of its work to promote and implement the delivery of sustainable development throughout Birmingham.

In particular judges praised Birmingham's approach to recycling and the management of construction waste materials.

The WRAP award was handed out as part of the construction industry's leading annual award ceremony hosted by Building Magazine.

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To win the award the city came top from an impressive shortlist of high profile finalists including Sainsbury's, Sir Robert McAlpine, ISG, Wates Group and Wilmot Dixon.

Councillor Neville Summerfield, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "To win this award is a great honour and provides proof that our hard work and leadership in seeking to tackle climate change issues is really starting to take effect.

"As a city we have set an ambitious target to reduce carbon emission by 60% by 2026.

"This award demonstrates that we are aggressively pursuing this on all fronts, from the strategic management of large-scale construction projects through to specific advice and action with individual householders."

He added: "I am particularly pleased as this award follows on closely from the West Midlands Construction Excellence 2008 award for Sustainability and the recently received Queens Award to the City Council's strategic CHP/ District Heating Partner BDEC, and is a mark of the national recognition Birmingham is receiving for its work on sustainability."

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) is government-funded organisation which helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change.

2009 is the third year it has staged the 'Award for Sustainable Construction'.

(JM/BMcC)