Construction awards lay foundations for higher quality workmanship

IMPROVING the quality of construction is one of the most important challenges affecting the building industry.

Over the last few years there have been real breakthroughs made in construction techniques, design and, most importantly, the vetting and approval of workmanship by local authority building control departments. As a result buildings are being built to higher and higher standards.

Each year, Local Authority Building Control (LABC) within the East Midlands organises a Built in Quality Award Scheme to recognise best practice. The awards are the envy of the construction industry as they objectively identify and reward those that achieve the highest standards in building construction across a wide range of categories.

To qualify to enter the awards a development must initially be recommended by the building control section in the local authority area where the work has been undertaken. In the North East Lincolnshire and East Lindsey District Council areas building control is carried out by Lincs Building Consultancy, a partnership between the two authorities for the delivery of the service.

Dean Oglesby, business manager for LIncs Building Consultancy, said: "Involvement in the Awards as a winner – or a finalist – brings widespread industry recognition and often opens the door to further work or commissions. Regional winners are entered to the National Built in Quality Awards held in London in October.

"The regional awards attract up to 250 industry figureheads – including representatives of many local government departments, senior partners of leading contractors, architectural practices and consultancies.

"The LABC Built in Quality Awards provide businesses with an unrivalled opportunity for promoting their product or services to this important marketplace. The UK construction industry is responsible for some £60 billion worth of investment each year. These Awards are therefore a very cost effective way of raising the profile of organisations with this influential audience."

The 2008 awards were held in Nottingham on in June and Lincs Building Consultancy had four nominations shortlisted with three being overall winners. Winners were KD Design in the best house category for a house in Peakes Lane Grimsby, Rosamund Nicholson Architects in the best public or community project category for Alford Crematorium and Neil Dowlman Architecture Ltd in the best partnership with a designer or construction consultant for his best Partnership with Lincs Building Consultancy.