Winners are recognised not just for the quality of the houses they produce, but the quality of site management that goes into producing those homes.
Health and safety, communication, and even the tidiness of a site are graded across a twelve month period by LABC Warranty’s risk management surveyors.
“The Bricks is one of the hardest prizes to win as a builder and site manager,” said Sarah Dee-Shapland, Technical Director at LABC Warranty. “It requires site managers and their teams to work constantly to uphold quality, safety, and workmanship across all the plots under their care.
“Winning a Brick also requires the buy-in of builders to support their site managers, backing them to put together teams and contractors to deliver great homes on great sites.
“I’d like to offer my congratulations to the Bricks winners this year, they should all be proud of the incredible work they’ve done on their sites.”
Site name: Keekle Meadows
Developer: High Grange Developments
Judges’ notes: A serial Bricks finalist, this site is part of what helps High Grange put together a reputation for quality in the area.
All operatives on site are employed directly, and High Grange’s owner is the site manager. High Grange themselves a family business, they’ve kept standards high for years on this site.
The site is well-maintained, a wonderful site with excellent finishes and management.
Site name: Cordelia Gardens
Developer: Penwood Developments / Meadow View Contractors
Judges’ notes: The people who build these houses buy these houses, because they’re that good. The site manager pays great attention to detail to workmanship and demands the highest spec everywhere.
The quality is phenomenal, the homes are truly bespoke, putting extra work into areas like accessibility for buyers with limited sight by installation special lights.
Site name: Acresford Park
Developer: Walton Homes
Judge’s notes: A well-presented, aesthetically pleasing site. Well managed, tidy, and with subtle decorative brickwork showing a high level of care.
The site manager documented everything on the site for the future reference of risk management surveyors, showing excellent communication and organisation.
The quality of workmanship was good, with particular emphasis on the quality of joinery and bricklaying on display.
Site name: Woodwinds
Developer: Walton Homes
Judges’ notes: LABC Warranty judges noted that the site was aesthetically pleasing, well maintainted, and of a high quality.
Of particular note is that the site manager from Walton Homes’ other winning site, Acresford Park, swapped roles with the site manager of Woodwinds.
This allowed the respective site managers to share good practice, deploy their skills on a new site, and learn from each other’s work.
Site name: Primrose Grove
Developer: Bellway Homes (East)
Judges’ notes: On the outside of the homes, the quality of brickwork and detailing was noted, along with their good and care attention to installation elements like cavity trays.
On the inside, cable management, pipe management, and the quality of bathroom finishes were highlighted for their quality.
Good health and safety provisions and protections of works was also noted by the judges.
Site name: St Michaels Park Phase 2B
Developer: Morris Homes (East)
Judges’ notes: The site manager’s openness to improvement was noted, with risk survey managers noting that they could see improvements on the site on their subsequent visits.
A very good site, and a clean site, St Michaels Park is noted for the legacy of trades who have consistently worked on the site for its history, producing very high quality homes.
Site name: Houghton Grange
Developer: Shelbourne Estates
Judges’ notes: Judges were impressed by the quality of the brickwork on this site, and with the overall standard of site management displayed by the Morris team.
The quality of the communication with LABC Warranty is high, labelling of areas like pipework is good, and everything inside the homes is to a high quality.
Site name: Hubsbury Grange
Developer: Shelbourne Estates
Judges’ notes: LABC Warranty’s surveyors were impressed by the protection of the standing elements of the site, preventing possibly costly repairs and delays with proper protection of areas like gas membranes form the elements.
The site manager and associated parties also showed excellent cooperation with visiting sureyors, keeping excellent records to demonstrate progress and showing implementation when offered guidance.
Site name: Miller Road
Developer: Seddon Construction
Judge’s notes: Built on the site of a former hospital, Miller Road (also known as The Meadows) has impressed judges with its dedication of safety.
Contractors on the site maintained full PPE adherence alongside directly-employed staff, gated access was observed at key crossings alongside signage at all important junctions.
In addition, proper staircase access to scaffolding, excellent labelling of elements on site, clearly signposted call points and meeting points were observed – evidence of time and care taken to produce a quality site.
On top of that, the homes themselves are attractive, with great work going into their construction.
Site name: Boston Road
Developer: Higgins Partnerships
Judges' notes: Across three blocks, the Boston Road development boasts a combination of private sale, shared ownership, affordable housing, and commercial opportunities centred on a ‘village square’ design. Judges have been impressed by the quality of build and site management on display for years now.
Builders, site managers and sites which, while not winning a Brick this year, deserve a special mention.
Parklands, by MH Stainton Homes Limited
Cotton Gardens, by Brother Developments Limited / B & E Boys Ltd
McArthur Gardens, by A R Cartwright (Construction) Ltd
Southlands Grange, by Yorvik Homes Limited
Harriers Rest, by Allison Homes Ltd
Broadacre, by Morris Homes (North) Ltd
Hampton Water, by Morris Homes (Eastern) Limited
Abbey Central , by Peveril Homes Limited
Seaford Road, by Kellen Homes
Millbeck Grange, by Persimmon Homes Ltd
Moorgate, by P. Casey & Co. Limited / Casey Group
Every month, LABC Warranty’s risk management surveyors visit sites and grade them against a criteria of safety, communication, tidiness and more.
The highest-performing sites they visit are then nominated for a monthly Site Recognition Award, celebrating their great work.
The technical experts at LABC Warranty meet and hammer out the annual Bricks winners from that year’s pool of Site Recognition Award winners.