Major housebuilding partnership shortlisted for National Housing Award

A major housebuilding joint venture scheme between ethical housing developer Aster Group and national housebuilder Galliford Try has been shortlisted for one of the housing sector’s top awards. 

White Rock LLP, a partnership between Aster and Galliford Try, has been chosen as a finalist at the National Housing Awards 2016. Now in their 10th year, the National Housing Awards recognise and reward excellence in affordable housing. 

The pair have been nominated the Best Partnership category for their successful collaboration which is delivering a £55 million development, also called White Rock, in Paignton, Torbay. Alongside more than 350 homes which are currently being built, an innovative construction skills training hub has been set up to help address local youth unemployment and tackle the construction skills shortage in the region. 

The new homes and training hub are proving to be a real catalyst for change and long-term economic prosperity in the region. In a little over a year, 1,500 construction jobs have been created for young people from across the Torbay region. This is 23% of the 6,480 new construction workers the South West needs to recruit annually over the next five years. 

The partnership will deliver 380 further new homes over the next six years and continues to actively look for further development opportunities. 

Clare Crawford, Aster Group commercial director, says: “For the partnership to receive national recognition by being nominated for this award is an excellent reward for the hard work of everyone involved. 

“White Rock LLP was established to deliver new homes and leave a lasting legacy of employment and skills training in the communities we work in. 

“We’ve already seen very impressive results from the work we’ve carried out in Paignton, where high-quality new housing is being provided alongside life-changing professional skills, helping scores of young people take their first steps in what we hope will be long and successful careers in construction.” 

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony, which will be held at the Lancaster Hotel, London on Thursday, 8 September, and be hosted by popular media personality Alexander Armstrong.