Green homes put Stroud architects in line for top award (From Stroud News and Journal)

Green homes put Stroud architects in line for top award

12:03pm Thursday 30th July 2009 in SNJ Business News By Nick Wakefield

STROUD based Vision Mill Architects has been shortlisted for a prestigious sustainable housing award alongside some of the top practices in the UK. The firm is in the running for Inside Housing magazine’s Sustainable Larger Social Housing Project of the Year award for an eco-friendly development it designed in Ludlow, Shropshire.

Completed in April this year, the Rocks Green estate features the UK’s first major biomass district heating system, which is expected to save around 120 tonnes of carbon emissions every year compared to a traditional development of the same size.

Operated by South Shropshire Housing Association, the innovative system runs off woodchip fuel derived from sawmills, tree surgeons and local forestry works.

Hot water is distributed around the site to each dwelling, which also benefits from underfloor heating and interface units containing heat meters to encourage residents to conserve heat.

Focusing on the best green social housing projects in the UK today, the awards ceremony takes place at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane in October.

Nick Mills, managing director at Vision Mill, said: "We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award.

"This is a real ‘feather in the cap’ for a practice of our size."

Last year nearly 500 guests attended the event, which was hosted by green campaigner and comedian Alistair McGowan.

Ted Stevens, Inside Housing’s events director and organiser of the awards said: "We have had a terrific response with hundreds of entries and Vision Mill Architects has done brilliantly to get shortlisted from such a huge field.

"Britain is leading the way on sustainable housing and innovative building techniques so we are delighted to organise a ceremony to reward those organisations that are delivering best practice".

First established in Nailsworth in 2004, Vision Mill Architects is a design orientated practice which has primarily been involved in the delivery of affordable housing projects for various registered social landlords. For more information about the firm call 01453 760062, email info@visionmillarchitects.co.uk or visit www.visionmillarchitects.co.uk.