Housing Corporation Gold Award

Greenoak Housing Association is celebrating the news that it has scooped a prestigious national housing award. We triumphed in the face of stiff competition from over 100 rival entries. Announced at a special awards ceremony in Central London, Greenoak has won a Housing Corporation Gold Award 2007 for its outstanding work and innovation in providing its residents with eco-friendly homes.

Greenoak’s innovative greenhomes developments are in Woking and Normandy, Guildford, with a third to start soon in Storrington, West Sussex. These achieve overall CO2 emissions below UK Building Regulations requirements.

Greenoak has also improved the energy efficiency of its older properties so that its overall average SAP energy efficiency rating is 92, (the UK average is 51).

Chief Executive, Diana Kingdon said ‘Greenoak takes its responsibility to tackling climate change very seriously. One of our board members has acted as a sustainability champion since we introduced our Environmental Policy and Plan in 2000. Residents play a key role in finding ways to save energy and water as well as improve recycling. Those in our recently built greenhomes also provide feedback through a design panel, ensuring that future new homes are good for residents to live in.’

On-site renewables and water recycling are not used because Greenoak has ‘concentrated on the structure and on reducing the demand for water and energy,’ says the association’s Development Director, Adrian Buffery. ‘Also, all new houses are future-proofed to allow gas boilers to be superceded in the future, for example, by connecting to district heating systems’.

The association works with parish councils to tailor rural schemes to meet local needs. Houses recently completed in the village of Normandy are “a practical visible benchmark to the wider community and an incentive for future projects”, says Guildford Borough Council. “Good to look at and so efficient with their insulation and energy efficiency”, adds the Parish Council.’

Greenoak’s partnership record also impressed the judges. It has forged links with local authorities and is a member of the 12 strong SHAPE group (Small Housing Associations Pursuing Excellence). Greenoak is also jointly working with Hyde Housing Association on a new scheme of 22 units in Woking, and has provided support with projects for smaller associations.

Sir Duncan Michael, chairman of the judging panel said, "
Congratulations to Greenoak Housing Association in securing this prestigious award for its environmental work."

" Greenoak’s achievement in facts and figures alone greatly impressed the judges. They are a real success story and a fantastic example of how you can deliver eco-friendly homes and involve the communities that you serve. A worthy winner.

One of the difficulties Greenoak faces is to find new development sites. We are currently seeking land owners in the south-east for future greenhomes developments.