CAMBRIDGE City Council recently held its annual Considerate Contractor Awards to recognise firms that have made significant efforts to minimise noise and disruption on building projects.
The Considerate Contractor Awards highlight contractors who keep building sites in Cambridge safe and clean, and consider their neighbours and the public in line with the council’s voluntary Considerate Contractor Scheme, which goes beyond the legal minimum requirements.
This scheme asks members to commit to a code of good practice over and above the legal minimum requirements, to ensure that construction work does not make life unpleasant for people who live and work nearby.
This year the top Considerate Contractor Award, in association with the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry, was presented to Barnes Construction.
Their project off Harrison Drive on behalf of Homerton College involved the construction of a new dining hall, buttery, kitchens, and a new servery. There were also new contemporary spaces provided for students. The location of the building was close to a number of residential properties so the team ensured that the construction process was carried out as smoothly as possible.
A Certificate of Excellence was awarded to SDC Builders Ltd for their project at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus where the new Heart and Lung Research building was constructed on behalf of Royal Papworth Hospital and the University of Cambridge.
Gilbert Ash were also awarded a Certificate of Excellence in this category for their project at the University of Cambridge’s Eddington neighbourhood where a new hotel development and central landscaped garden area were built.
Gilbert Ash were also the recipients of the Works in Progress Award for ongoing projects of more than two years’ duration. This was for their project to redevelop the Park Street car park site where major demolition works have recently taken place. The redevelopment of the site will see the construction of a new underground car park with extensive cycle parking provision and a new aparthotel above.
A Certificate of Excellence in this category was awarded to R G Carter for their ongoing work to construct new student accommodation on behalf of Christ’s College in King Street.
The Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Award for contractors undertaking small- to medium-sized projects was presented to Millcam Construction. Millcam registered a number of projects in the scheme, with their efforts rewarded for their project at the doctor’s surgery in Arbury Road. As well as refurbishing the existing surgery, a new extension was constructed on a particularly small site. Millcam were also involved in a number of other particularly challenging sites.
A Certificate of Excellence in this category was awarded to P B Doyle for their efforts in complying with the scheme whilst undertaking a project on behalf of Downing College. The project in Regent Street involved the conversion of first and second-floor office accommodation into student residences. A ground floor retail unit was also refurbished, and to the rear of the site an extension was built.
Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Infrastructure, said: “For many years now our Considerate Contractor Scheme has helped promote high quality and sustainable development in the city. We make regular visits to all sites participating in the scheme and work closely with contractors to help resolve any issues. I’d like to thank and congratulate all the companies who took part in this year’s awards for doing all they can to reduce the disruption that is inevitable while working on projects which ultimately enhance the city we live in.”
