Award win for Citu gives ultimate recognition to green building credentials

Leeds based sustainable property developer, Citu, is celebrating after putting our region well and truly on the map, having been presented with the industry’s ultimate accolade at The UK Green Building Council’s Sustainability Awards in London, last week.

Citu took their place at the industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony, beating off competition nationwide from the likes of The Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and The Notting Hill Low Carbon Refurbishment Initiative, for their development of the UK’s greenest, high-tech homes and offices - Greenhouse, in South Leeds.

Proving that Leeds is leading the way in sustainability in property, the Citu team were crowned winners of the Best Refurbishment Project, beating competition from 6 other hopefuls in their category, most of which were Southern based, at the awards that recognise and reward outstanding achievement in Sustainability in the built environment.

The awards cabinet is filling up for Citu, as this notches up their 12^th award win for Greenhouse, which was only officially launched in October of this year.

Developers committed to change, Citu won their latest, and most prestigious accolade due to the philosophy behind Greenhouse, the part-refurbishment, part-new build of former workers lodge Shaftesbury House.

Event organiser Sarah Austin said “What we've seen a lot in the industry is what we've started calling 'Green Bling'. Developers trying to retro-fit technology to help reduce the carbon footprint of buildings - often these are add-ons that have very little value to bring. Citu were crowned winners in this category because all the judges were impressed with their holistic approach to sustainability. With Greenhouse Citu have not only created a low carbon development, thanks to the efficiency of technology and materials used in the build, but they’ve also built sustainable living for the long term thanks to the extra features such as their bike club, allotments and car share scheme. They’ve gone much further than other developers in this area and we were delighted to present them with this award.”

Just a week previously, the team were celebrating at the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Yorkshire White Rose awards in Sheffield, after Greenhouse architects West and Machell scooped the fourth Sustainability Award for the development and a Bronze Architecture Award.

That week also saw them win The Premier Guarantee Excellence Award for Environmental Project of the Year, alongside Clegg Construction, for Greenhouse.

Citu M.D, Chris Thompson, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be receiving recognition for Greenhouse as it’s taken huge commitment, passion and determination from a lot of people across the industry to make this development what it is today. We were always clear on what we were setting out to achieve with Greenhouse and I’m proud that we stayed true to its core - sustainability really is the blood that runs through Greenhouse from the bottom up and it’s rewarding to be recognised for leading the way in sustainable building.”

He added: “Each of the awards we’ve won throughout 2010 mean something to us. It’s great that people really capture the essence of Greenhouse and understand exactly what we set out to do – create clean energy to support every day living and working, without compromising on design, function or quality.”

Greenhouse compromises of 166 one, two and three-bedroom homes plus 15,000 sq ft of high-specification creative work space, all available for sale or for rent.

For more information see www.greenhouseleeds.co.uk

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Notes to editors:

- - - Images are attached. Chris Thompson features with TV presenter Julia

Bradbury.

Chris Thompson is available for further comment

Other awards Greenhouse have won are:
2010 Premier Guarantee Excellence Award "Winner" - Environmental Project of the Year
Yorkshire Property Insider Awards 2010 - "Highly Commended" Sustainable Development Award
Yorkshire Property Insider Awards 2010 - Developer of the Year Award, Runner Up
INCA Awards 2010 - "Winner" Residential High Rise Refurbishment
INCA Awards 2010 - "Winner" Project of the Year
INCA Awards 2010 - "Winner" Residential High Rise Refurbishment
2010 Northern Design Awards Best Eco Project, Runner Up
CEDIA 2010 International Technology Awards - "Winner" of Best Multi-Dwelling Project
Estate Gazette - 2009 Green Awards - "Winner" Best Development
What Green Home? 2009 - "Highly Commended"

For more information contact:

Chocolate PR

Helen MacGregor

0113 236 1835

helen@chocolatepr.co.uk

LOCAL DEVELOPER TRUMPS RIVALS IN SUSTAINABILITY