Our partnership with Countryside, Hyde and Homes England at Rochester Riverside has won the Public/Private Partnership award at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards 2021.
The innovative partnership at Rochester Riverside, with us and Homes England as landowners and Countryside and Hyde as developers, was recognised for the extent to which it has added real value to the outcomes for local communities through the transformation of a 50-acre brownfield site into a new 1,400-home riverside destination for the area.
The LGC Awards have been created to recognise the achievements of officers and politicians in local government, with the Public/ Private Partnership award acknowledging partnerships which have succeeded in providing more efficient and seamless services to the public. The award is designed to highlight the ways in which the partnership has brought about service improvements, achieving superior outcomes for local residents despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic.
The LGC Awards see entries from council teams across the UK judged by other councils’ senior officers, whose aim is to promote innovation and inspire other councils to improve their services.
This year’s awards were presented by actress, TV presenter and comedian Sally Phillips in a ceremony held at Grosvenor House, London, which was attended by more than 1,100 local authority representatives from across the UK.
At Rochester Riverside, Countryside and Hyde are delivering a new mixed-tenure community of up to 1,400 new homes with a primary school, nursery, as well as a hotel, commercial units, open green spaces, and landscaping over 12 years, delivering much needed mixed-tenure homes for the local community.
Last year, Rochester Riverside was crowned ‘The Winner of Winners’ and ‘The Building for a Better Life’ at the Housing Design Awards – a testament to the high-quality design and commitment to sensitive placemaking at the development.
Brilliant example of how local authorities can work with housing developers
Cllr Alan Jarrett, Leader of Medway Council, said: “I am delighted that Rochester Riverside won the Partnership (Public Private) category at the LGC Awards. This multi-million flagship development is a brilliant example of how local authorities can work with housing developers to produce high-quality award-winning, and sustainable, developments. Rochester Riverside offers residents a great choice of affordable and luxury homes in a fantastic location which also includes a new hotel, retail, café, a new primary school, community uses, accommodation for older residents, employment opportunities, significant open space and a wonderful riverside walk.”
Prestigious accolade
Andrew Usher, Managing Director, South London and Thames Gateway, Countryside, said: “We are thrilled to have been named the best Public/Private Partnership at the LGC Awards, a prestigious accolade that is testament to the hard work of our team and our partners at Hyde, Medway Council and Homes England. We are looking forward to building on these already strong partnerships over the years to come to deliver the best possible homes and amenities for Medway.”
Ongoing commitment to providing high-quality homes
Guy Slocombe, Chief Investment Officer at Hyde, said: “This award win is a result of our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality homes to the local community together with our partners, and we are excited to see Rochester Riverside flourish as a result of our successful public-private partnership. Rochester Riverside is a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together, and I am thrilled to see that our partnership has been recognised at these prestigious awards.”