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Some 600 senior figures from the country’s home building sector gathered together in Edinburgh yesterday at the biggest industry event this year.
With a fragile confidence appearing to creep back into the housing market, the theme of industry body Homes for Scotland’s Annual Lunch & Quality Awards was “Planning for Recovery”.
Attendees heard from the organisation’s new Chairman Gerry More who highlighted that new home output during the year would likely struggle to exceed 12,000 units – less than half pre-credit crunch levels and less then half of what is required to simply “stand still” in response to the 18,000 new households that are formed and the 11,000 homes that are demolished in Scotland each year – and said: “It will take bold and visionary steps in policy, activity and investment patterns by all of us to climb out of this slump with all parties, both public and private, working closely together in a way never seen before.”
The audience also listened to a rousing speech from Housing Minister Alex Neil as he set out key themes for future housing innovation and confirmed that the Scottish Government would lobby against any proposed introduction of VAT on new homes by Westminster.
Recognising best practice in the industry, Host Fred MacAulay brought proceedings to a close by unveiling the winners of this year’s Homes for Scotland Quality Awards, which focused on a range of issues fundamental to recovery.
A total of seven categories were considered by the independent judging panel, chaired by Brian Frater, Head of Planning and Building Standards at Scottish Borders Council and Chair of Heads of Planning Scotland. In addition, the judging panel felt compelled to introduce a Special Award in recognition of outstanding industry contribution.
The winners were: Affordable Housing: Stewart Milne Construction (Springfield Properties & Link Homes commended); Skills & Training: Cruden Homes & Taylor Wimpey
(Forster Roofing commended); Health & Safety: Bett Homes Community Engagement:
Cruden Homes & Taylor Wimpey; Customer Care: Stewart Milne Homes (Cala Homes commended); Environment & Sustainability: Dawn Homes (CCG Homes and Lomond Homes commended) and Judges' Special Award for industry contribution: Mactaggart & Mickel.
(GK)
