26 November 2008
This week developers of the Royal Arsenal Woolwich were awarded the prestigious British Urban Regeneration Association's (BURA) Award for Best Practice in Regeneration for the first phase of the Royal Arsenal Woolwich; the multi-million pound redevelopment of the former Ministry of Defence (MOD) site in south-east London.
Base 18, pictured above, is one of the affordable housing developments managed by Southern Housing Group at Royal Arsenal Woolwich.
The entire development comprises 76-acres of water-front brown-field land and the master plan comprises the refurbishment of former MOD buildings and the development of brand-new housing providing 1,250 new homes including over 600 affordable properties; a gym, museum and a cafe and delicatessen.
The award was presented to Berkeley Homes' (Urban Development) Ltd John Anderson, the Developer of the Royal Arsenal Woolwich and its partners: English Partnerships; Graham Priddle, Southern Housing Group's Area Development Manager, and the London Borough of Greenwich and the London Development Agency.
Dale Meredith, Southern Housing Group's Director of Development, said that the BURA Award is a welcome recognition of the expert regeneration of an important site in the heart of London Thames Gateway.
"Royal Arsenal Woolwich is a stunning example of how a successful integrated community can be achieved on a historic riverside site. Southern Housing Group is very proud of its partnership with Berkeley Homes and the London Borough of Greenwich on this large ex-industrial site and we are very pleased this award has been made as the partnership enters the latest phase of continuing development," he said.
Tony Pidgley, managing director of Berkeley Group said: "we are proud to be honoured by this Best Practice Award from BURA for our work at Royal Arsenal Woolwich. As we have worked on this site for more than a decade we have shared BURA's goal with huge enthusiasm and like BURA, we want to see life brought back to towns throughout Britain, spurring inward investment and higher standards of living. We are delighted to receive this award for Royal Arsenal Woolwich, where we have made every effort to enhance the site's substantial heritage and provide the amenities, transport links and economic foundation for an altogether bright future."
BURA said that the Phase 1 of Berkeley's regeneration of Royal Arsenal was selected for an award by BURA for its growing international reputation for best practice.
"The result has been an imaginative renovation of the former MOD site with the sympathetic addition of new buildings in the midst of many listed buildings," said BURA's expert judging panel. "Not only has the scheme opened-up Woolwich's Thames waterside to public use but it has fostered solid community involvement from the start, with a wide mix of tenure, including 30% affordable homes. The beneficial impact on the town centre has been significant, attracting much needed investment, improving transport links and enabling regeneration of the rest of Woolwich town centre to go forward."
Tony Pidgley adds: "Our regeneration of the historical site has given Royal Arsenal Woolwich a real sense of place, something which we and our customers aspire. This is one of the most significant groupings of Grade I and Grade II listed buildings for residential use, which we have restored working closely with English Heritage. Royal Arsenal Woolwich is now a vibrant new community which already has around 3,000 residents and it will only grow as a destination as we continue the regeneration of the area."
For more information, please contact Karen Bermingham of the Communications team on 020 7553 6479 or email communications@shgroup.org.uk
Notes for Editors
Southern Housing Group's provision of affordable housing at Royal Arsenal Woolwich
Base 18
- Total number of homes: 310 in Base 18
- Affordable properties within Base 18 - 113 apartments
- 20 x apartments for social and key worker rental
- 93 x shared-ownership apartments
Berkeley Homes' architects redesigned "Base 18" keeping the existing exterior facades. Sympathetic designs were made to ensure that the listed building was restored to its former glory with authentic period materials in keeping with the overall look of the scheme. The structure is built around a central courtyard with facades overlooking the courtyard. Traditional plasterboard construction forms the internal areas and ceilings.
Building 10 - The Warren
Currently under construction Building 10 comprises four blocks set within a historic facade and it is scheduled for completion at the end of 2009. The mixed-use development comprises space for a primary care trust, a cinema and retail units. Southern Housing Group will provide 300 units including homes for sale via shared ownership, intermediate and social rent. All homes will have a balcony that will face out towards Woolwich.
Building 50
This brand-new building provides 322 residential homes and the affordable housing allocation is 88 properties for shared ownership sale and key worker residential. Southern Housing Group works with the London Borough of Greenwich to provide 26, two and three bedroom flats for social rent.
Royal Arsenal Woolwich Phases one and two
Phase one of the affordable housing is a mixed-tenure new build development of 35 family houses for social rent and 28, one and two bedroom flats for shared ownership located in Argyll Road and Cornwallis Road. These homes were completed in July 2003.
Phase two of the affordable housing provision at Royal Arsenal Woolwich was the construction of 59 houses and flats for social rent and five, two bedroom houses for shared ownership and they were completed in September 2003. Nine of the houses are wheel-chair adapted and all of the houses have private gardens and parking spaces. Another 19 of the properties are owned and managed by ASRA Housing Association (one of Southern Housing Group's Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority association partners).
BURA is the association that champions urban regeneration. The award scheme is in its 24th year.