Building a greener future in Awards spotlight

Preventing environmental impact unites the three finalists in the Sustainable Development category of the 2016 ProCon Leicestershire property and construction awards.

Competing for the prize are a University of Leicester project which sets a new benchmark for energy conservation in large buildings, a scheme to alleviate flooding risks in the city and a countryside home erected in just four days.

The category, sponsored by EME Installations, is one of six in this year’s ProCon Awards. The ProCon Awards’ overall sponsors are Salus Approved Inspectors, Spearing Waite, Unique Window Systems and Westleigh Partnerships. The Leicester Mercury is the Awards’ media partner.

The Sustainable Development of the Year finalists are:

Leicester Flood Risk Alleviation Scheme, submitted by the Environment Agency

Creating and enhancing green infrastructure along Leicester’s river corridor has reduced the flood risk to 2,000 homes and businesses in one of the UK’s cities at greatest risk of flooding.

Disused public spaces have been transformed, public access improved and new habitat created along this important ecological corridor.

The flood alleviation scheme works by removing barriers to flood conveyance and improving the capacity of the floodplain to store water. This draws water away from areas of built development by lowering flood levels.

University of Leicester Centre for Medicine, submitted by Willmott Dixon Construction

The Centre for Medicine sets a new benchmark for energy efficiency performance in large-scale buildings.

Certified as the UK’s largest non-residential building constructed to the Passivhaus standard, it is an exemplar for future developments of this size and complexity for both the university sector and the UK as a whole.

The building is a new home for the College of Medicine and the Biological Sciences
 and Psychology departments.

Vicarage Drive, Foxton, submitted by KeyPlan Developments

Fox Lodge is a contemporary eco-house built at the heart of the Leicestershire conservation village of Foxton.

The project sought to maximise sustainability in the materials selected, energy sources, heat loss, airtightness and to minimise running costs, maintenance and repairs.

The two-storey structure was built using timber framed panels containing rock wool insulation. The internal lining boards, which needed no plastering, are made of recycled newspaper and resin. The walls, floors and roof structure was erected in four working days.

Lea Kane, sales director at EME Installations, said: “Current and future new buildings and other construction projects will increasingly embed sustainability into the built environment of Leicestershire and beyond.

“So we are pleased and proud that EME Installations is supporting their development by helping ProCon shine a spotlight on the very best sustainable projects in the county.”

The winner will be announced at a November ceremony at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

The other five awards are:

• Small Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Infrastructure Investments
• Large Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Infrastructure Investments
• Small Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Edward Cooper Young Chartered Surveyors
• Large Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Edward Cooper Young Chartered Surveyors
• Regeneration Project of the Year, sponsored by Cambridge & Counties Bank