19 May 2010

For immediate release:

Liverpool housing development is 'highly commended'

A popular development of new homes near to Liverpool city centre has been highly commended at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Dorrington Gardens is a mix of two-and-three bedroomed houses and apartments, set between the green views of Everton Park and within walking distance of Liverpool.

The scheme was built by David Wilson Homes as part of the Liverpool Housing Market Renewal initiative. Local people from the nearby Easby estate, as well as others affected by clearance and residents moving into the area for the first time, snapped up the new homes - making Dorrington Gardens a credit-crunch busting success.

It was given the accolade of Highly Commended at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) NW Awards, which were held in Manchester.

Points of interest included design, the use of eco-friendly systems and equipment, and the extensive community engagement that involved local residents.

Children from the area were invited to design their 'dream homes', with the winning pictures displayed on hoardings on the site, and youngsters from Faith Primary School were responsible for coming up with the name Dorrington Gardens.

The homes offer a combination of affordable styles, and were made available on both a shared ownership and rent basis.

Graham Swann, area MD for David Wilson Homes, said: "We were delighted to be Highly Commended by RICS - an important professional body who, through this award, have acknowledged the combination of style, affordability and good communication that makes Dorrington Gardens work so well."

Rob Farnos, Assistant Executive Director for Housing and Neighbourhood Services at Liverpool City Council, said: "It was a great night for all of us - not only for the people involved in the planning and delivery of Dorrington Gardens, but for the residents of the development who came along with us to the event. Dorrington Gardens shows how regeneration can be successfully delivered through public and private sector collaboration, with the essential support of the local community."

Dorrington Gardens is in the City Centre North Zone of Opportunity in Liverpool. The flagship development was delivered in partnership between NewHeartlands, the HMR pathfinder for Merseyside, David Wilson Homes, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Housing Trust.

The picture from the event shows, L-R: Dave Highton (Liverpool City Council), Emma Maloney (NewHeartlands), Barry Wainwright (DWH), June McGoogan (Resident), Bill Turnbull (host, BBC), Teresa Forest (Resident), Graham Swann (DWH), Rob Farnos (LCC), Jason Corner (DWH).

Notes to Editors

• NewHeartlands is one of ten HMR pathfinders in the country. It is tasked with regenerating the inner Merseyside area by tackling low-demand and poor-quality housing markets, usually in some of the UK's most deprived areas. We work closely with Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral Councils and other partners including the Home and Communities Agency, private developers, RSLs and residents.

• The programme started in 2003 and is expected to run for 10-15 years. The homebuilding plans are only one aspect of the programme which also includes job creation, social regeneration and community building, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and boosting prosperity.

For more information contact: Debbie Johnson

NewHeartlands

Tel: 07894 398800

debbiemjohnson@hotmail.com