mhs homes Medway's largest independent landlord, housing association mhs homes has won a prestigious award for its new headquarters building at Chatham Maritime, the South East England Development Agency's (SEEDA's) flagship regeneration site in North Kent.
Broadside, a five-storey office building situated on the banks of the River Medway, was named the most sustainable building in the South East region at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards 2007.
It is one of dozens of buildings at Chatham Maritime to be recognised for their sustainability. The site as a whole reached the finals of the Deputy Prime Minister's Sustainable Communities Awards in 2004, while homes on St Mary's Island have regularly achieved BREeam Ecohomes ratings of "Very Good". The latest developments at the site will receive Ecohomes ratings of 'Excellent'.
Broadside was designed by architect Hazle McCormack Young, and one of the main focuses was to provide working spaces allowing privacy and security without compromising the open plan space on the riverside.
The building was praised by RICS judges for its efficient use of resources, sustainable environment and energy efficient construction procedures. The building was also runner-up in the Regeneration category, with RICS judge Peter Owen saying: "Although only a small part of the Chatham Maritime regeneration area, it sits well with its thoughtful architecture."
Broadside also offers stunning views of the Elizabethan Upnor Castle and stands next to the historic Grade II Listed Building Pumphouse No 5, recently renovated by SEEDA. Plans under consideration for the Pumphouse include converting it into a restaurant, apartments or marina clubhouse.
The successful regeneration of Chatham Maritime is already acting as a catalyst for the development of other strategic sites within Medway at places including Chatham Town Centre and Rochester Riverside. Other features of the site include more than 1,000 homes built, with another 2,000 planned, primary school, state-of-the-art community centre, three GP doctors' surgery, convenience store, pub and outlet centre featuring more than 80 high streets shops and restaurants.
The site is also home to the Universities of Medway, made up of the University of Greenwich, University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University and Mid-Kent College. By the end of 2007 it will be home to around 6,000 students adding an additional £10 million to the local economy per annum.
Jonathan Sadler, SEEDA Project Director, Chatham Maritime, said: "SEEDA is delighted that mhs homes decided to base its Headquarters at Chatham Martime and that Broadside has received this recognition for its state-of-the-art, low energy design."