The development, designed by PRP Architects and built by CPUK Ltd, includes brand new three and four bedroom stone and wood-clad houses, as well as refurbished homes created out of Grade 2-listed, stone canal buildings.
RIBA architect Susan Dawson chaired the judging panel for the Lancaster District Design Awards 2016, hosted by The Chamber North Lancashire, and supported by Lancaster Civic Society, RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) and Lancaster University.
Richard Thomas, on behalf of H20, a partnership between bloc and the Trust, said: "We are thrilled to have been given this award for the Aldcliffe Yard development in Lancaster. It's a recognition of the huge challenges we faced, working in a conservation area and creating a harmonising blend of brand new houses alongside the successful conversion of historic canal wharf buildings.
"We are very proud of the finished development which has been a trail blazer in several ways. At the start of the construction process, we introduced a new ‘custom-build' approach to house building – a half-way house for buyers not wanting to take on the full risk and hassle of self-build.
"This new approach was even picked up by the BBC Panorama programme in March 2015 as an example for how to tackle the nation's housing crisis. Several of our new residents bought their homes using custom-build and have now made considerable savings on the final purchase price, as well as having more flexibility on the design of their homes."
Wonderful historic buildings
The whole development was completed in July and only five homes now remain available for sale. These start at £295,000 for a new terraced three bedroom house overlooking the canal, rising to £405,000 for a refurbished heritage canal building with four bedrooms.
James Lazarus, Head of Property Development at the Trust, added: "We are delighted that our partnership H20 has won this award for Aldcliffe Yard. The site contains some wonderful historic buildings which have been lying empty for a number of years. It's fantastic to see them brought back into productive use again and transformed into family homes. Everyone using the canal benefits from the area being upgraded and improved.
"Maintaining a 200-year-old canal network is clearly a constant challenge and its upkeep is supported by income generated by development schemes like this one. Nearly two thirds of the profits from H20 developments to date have been re-invested in Britain's waterways for the benefit of all canal users."
Sales of the Aldcliffe Yard homes are being handled by Fisher Wrathall estate agents. Contact Olivia Baron at Fisher Wrathall, email [email protected] Tel 01524 68822.
