More new housing schemes in Plymouth have been awarded the Gold Building for Life standard than in any other local authority in the country.

Building for Life is the national standard for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods and is assessed on criteria such as closeness to transport links, community facilities and how well they fit in with the character of the area.

Twenty housing developments nationally have been awarded the highest industry standard for quality and design in new homes and five of these are in Plymouth. They are:

• Cargo, English Cities Fund with Ferguson Mann Architects (134 units)
• Astor Court, Cedar Homes Limited with the Architects Design Group (24 homes)
• Friars Lane, Pemberley Developments with Rogers and Haynes architects (15 homes)
• Grainey’s Joinery, McAleer and Rusher Ltd with architects Lacie, Hickie Caley. (64 homes)
• Mills Bakery, Urban Splash with Gillespie Yunnie architects (78 homes)

The initiative is led by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)and the Home Builders Federation and awards are given to new housing schemes that demonstrate a commitment to high design standards and good place making. The awards are judged by a panel of experts each year.

The standard also looks at whether the development has a good mixture of houses for sale, for rent or shared ownership and assesses how easily the new homes could be extended or adapted in the future, including for elderly or disabled people.

Plymouth City Council’s planning service is involved from a very early stage in negotiating with developers to ensure good quality homes are delivered through the planning process.

Its strategic housing team supports design and delivery of high quality housing and works to ensure affordable housing is provided where appropriate and to coordinate Government funding to enable homes to be built.

Councillor Ted Fry, Cabinet Member for Planning, Strategic Housing and Economic Development, said: "Plymouth takes the design of new homes very seriously and the awards demonstrate not only the quality of the architects, but the proactive and positive approach of the Council's planning and strategic housing teams.

"It also shows it is possible to achieve excellent design standards during a period of economic recession."

Matthew Coombe, one of the Council’s Building for Life assessors, said the team was particularly proud of the developments which made the best use of historic buildings or were developed within a historic setting such as Astor House and Friar’s Lane in the Barbican. Plymstock Library also won a Silver standard. The project was led by registered social landlord, Signpost Housing and was a mixed-use development of affordable residential accommodation and a new library in Horn Cross Road.

He said: "We’re thrilled that this was recognised as this project has improved the lives of many, many people. Not just the library users but the people with learning disabilities who can enjoy a more independent life thanks to homes that have been designed for them.”

Other Silver standard winners for 2010 were:

• Evolution Cove, developers Standerton House with the Architects Design Group with 58 homes
• James Place, University of Plymouth with Willmore Illes Architects Ltd (329 homes)
• Middleton’s, Stevenson Homes Ltd with Roger and Haynes Architects (11 homes)
• Plymstock Library, Signpost Housing with Rogers and Haynes Architects (27 homes)

Plymouth City Council press release, 10 September 2010