‘Considerate’ Linfoot Country Homes wins pair of top national awards

Family owned Warwickshire house builder Linfoot Country Homes has earned the highest possible praise for its neighbourly behaviour and respect for the communities in which it works – and has been presented with two top national awards. The company won a Gold award and was also named Most Considerate Runner-up for its outstanding consideration towards the public and the local environment in the annual Considerate Constructors Scheme National Company Awards held in London – the highest National Company awards given to any house builder in the whole of the UK.

The accolades build on Linfoot Country Homes’ success in previous years – which have seen it win two silvers and a bronze.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme was set up in 1997 to improve the image of the industry by encouraging best practice beyond what is legally required. Scheme members agree to be monitored against a five point code of conduct which focuses on the appearance of their sites, respect for the community, protection of the environment, safety and care of their workforce.

Judges, impressed by Linfoot Country Homes’ immaculately maintained sites, said: “This company serves as a fine example of considerate construction on behalf of the industry. There is a clear commitment to fostering respect and fair treatment, together with the promotion of health and well-being issues and training made available to employees and subcontractors.”

National chair of the National Federation of Builders, Simon Carr, who presented the awards added: “The awards are a celebration of excellence in our industry, a catalyst for improving performance and mitigating the impact of construction projects in the communities where we work. All winners have demonstrated excellent levels of consideration and performance beyond expectations.”

Linfoot Country Homes chairman Ken Linfoot, said: “Being Considerate Constructors is an ethos we have embraced since we began our business and is at the core of all we do. We were the only house building company to win a Gold Award and Most Considerate Runner-up at the National Company Awards. Receiving such a prestigious accolade demonstrates not only the high level of consideration shown by all our staff but our commitment to improving the image of the construction industry overall.”

back to top

Top Award for Linfoot Country Homes

Locally based house building company, Linfoot Country Homes, has won a Silver Award at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2014 National Company Awards.

The neoclassical elegance of Plaisterers’ Hall in the City of London was the venue for the event and only those registered companies who have demonstrated the highest levels of consideration towards the public, their workforces and the environment received awards.

The national initiative, which sees registered companies monitored against a five-point Code of Considerate Practice designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements, was set up by the Construction industry in 1997 to improve its image, and all businesses involved in any aspect of construction work are eligible to be involved in it.

In presenting the Awards, John Maddock, Chairman of the National Federation of Builders said, “Of the many hundreds of companies registered with the scheme only the very highest performing ones received a National Company Award. These were companies which had gone above and beyond the levels expected and had set standards for others to follow.”

Ken Linfoot, Linfoot Country Homes Chairman said, “Being a Considerate Constructor is integral to our business. Receiving such a prestigious award demonstrates not only the high level of consideration shown by all our staff but also our commitment to the Scheme’s overall aim of improving the image of construction. The awards are designed to recognise and reward exceptional levels of consideration therefore previously having won a bronze we’re delighted to have received a silver for the 2nd year running.

“I’m also extremely proud to note that the Silver Award received by us was the highest National Company award given to any House Builder in the whole of the country.”

back to top

Award winning Rectory Place praised for striking design

Rectory Place in Worcester city centre has won a prestigious Birmingham Post & Mail design and quality award for Linfoot Homes.

The luxury development of 17 apartments, duplexes and penthouses is an exciting blend of a grade II listed former rectory, 19th century mission hall, an 18th century brew house and coach house and a new extension.

Judges for the House Design awards were impressed by the striking overall effect of blending the historic buildings and the new section, the retention of some of the original features, the imposing entrance hall and staircase in the former rectory.

They also praised the dramatic and daring design of the interiors of the duplexes with their mezzanine bedrooms, the quality of the finishes, the high standard of appliances and the 21st century touches such as the inclusion of multi media connections and digital and satellite wiring. They also admired the specially commissioned artist-designed iron gates depicting elements of Worcester’s history.

back to top

Linfoot Homes win top quality award

Linfoot Homes has been presented with a Built in Quality Award for its stylish combination of individually designed private houses and traditionally constructed affordable homes for villagers in Long Compton.

Knights Court won top prize in the multiple dwellings category of the Stratford District Council promoted LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Built in Quality Awards.

It was among more than a thousand new buildings, conversions and extensions assessed throughout last year by the council’s building control surveyors in a drive to reward quality and innovative use of building technology.

Knights Court was the first scheme to be developed under the council’s Local Choice initiative which enables local people to remain in their own villages by providing a mix of open market and affordable housing on land otherwise not available for development.

back to top

Finding a new habitat for bats

Linfoot Homes are to build a special roost for a small colony of brown long-eared bats at their Oaklands development on Station Road in Balsall Common. Linfoot Homes are about to demolish the original property, but work won’t begin until the bats have been safely rehoused.

Linfoot Homes development director Claire Linfoot McLean explained: “We have been working closely with our ecological consultants and Solihull Borough Council’s ecologist to put together a strategy for protecting the bats. Their habitats are very susceptible to damage caused by development and obviously we want to make sure we go about re-homing them in the correct way.”

Once the environmentalists are satisfied the first stage of the bat transfer has been carried out successfully, work on the new development, which will comprise five two bedroom and two one bedroom apartments, will begin  in  earnest.  

back to top

Dr Who artist creates statement gates for luxury city centre development

An artist, whose work has featured in a diverse range of locations from the set of Dr Who to Worcester Cathedral to hospitals and cycle paths, has been commissioned to sculpt a frieze for a set of gates at a luxury apartment development in the heart of Worcester.

Andy Hazell has drawn his inspiration from local landmarks to create the frieze which will be welded to the entrance gates at Linfoot Homes’ Rectory Place in the spring.

The former Grade II listed rectory which, along with the adjoining 19th century mission hall, has been converted into 17 luxury apartments, still retains the beautiful walled gardens, which were at one time an apothecary’s garden.

back to top

Linfoot Homes builds first rural affordable housing under Local Choice initiative

Linfoot Homes has become the first private developer to create a combined affordable and open market housing scheme under an innovative initiative to help sustain village communities in South Warwickshire.

The development, Knights’ Court in Long Compton, is the first to be constructed under Stratford District Council’s Local Choice initiative which aims to provide affordable housing for villagers on land which would otherwise not receive planning consent.

The scheme consists of four two bedroom affordable homes for villagers and five individually designed four bedroom homes which have been sold on the open market.

New tenants, selected by the Warwickshire Rural Housing Association, include two sisters who had been forced out of the village by soaring prices and a family with a nine-year-old girl who is the fourth generation in her family to attend the local school and whose family ties with the village can be traced back to the 1600s.

back to top

Some of the Linfoot Homes team with the Investors in People Award.

Investors in People Award for upmarket Warwickshire housebuilder

Linfoot Homes has been presented with an Investors in People award on the strength of its commitment to staff development.

IIP assessor Alan Evans, from the West Midlands Quality Centre, said: “With an individual training plan drawn up for every member of staff there is a very clear focus on carrying out work efficiently, cleanly and safely to the customers’ satisfaction. They have respect for their workforce, and the loyalty of their staff is highlighted by the fact that many have long service with the company.

“There is a stable workforce with low staff turnover and people are prepared to go the extra mile to meet customer expectations.

back to top

Affordable homes by Linfoot Homes in Long Compton.

Warwickshire developer urges partnership approach to help sustain village communities

The developers behind Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s first ever affordable rural housing scheme under the Local Choice Initiative are calling on parish councils across the district to consider working with them on similar projects to help sustain their village communities.

Linfoot Homes chairman Ken Linfoot says partnership working under an innovative initiative launched to provide homes for local people will help keep rural communities alive and stem the flow of younger people into nearby towns.

The Local Choice initiative has been devised to find a solution to specific local problems and allows small scale schemes combining affordable and private housing to be built in or on the edge of villages on land which would otherwise not receive planning consent.

back to top