One Year On: WhatHouse? Award-Winner Berkeley Group

With the winners of the most prestigious prizes in the UK new homes industry set to be announced this Friday 18 November at the WhatHouse? Awards Gala Luncheon, we’re looking back at the multiple successes last year of one of the country’s best-known developers, Berkeley Group.

Berkeley Group trades under a number of brands, including Berkeley Homes, St George, St Edward, St William, St Joseph and St James. The collective work of all these companies led to the Group receiving Gold for Best Large Housebuilder in 2021, retaining the title from 2020 and a category in which it has achieved great results for many years.

Judges recognised its actions and ambitions in becoming a net zero carbon business by 2040 and its A rating for climate action and transparency by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). They also said: “A raft of customer care initiatives, as well as supporting and developing its own employees, adds to the gold lustre of Berkeley Group, while its modular factory in Kent will eventually deliver up to 1,000 homes a year – a further example of always looking ahead.”

There was another Gold, for Best Interior Design, for the St George brand at The Fenchurch at its London Dock development in Wapping. Judges admired “the quality of the fixtures and fittings… most of the design and materials selection is from the in-house design team; when combined with the design from Una Barac of Atellior, the two companies have created a fusion of colour that is exciting, young and dynamic.”

Find out more about current developments from St George.

There was a Silver for Best Luxury Development for South Quay Plaza, a Berkeley Homes scheme in London E14. With over 600 studios, apartments and penthouses, the scheme was designed by Foster + Partners. Judges admire the 68-storey tower and surrounding landscaped grounds, interior specification and numerous exclusive residential amenities, including a residents’ lounge and terrace on the 56th floor.

Prices currently start at £980,000. Find out more about South Quay Plaza from Berkeley Homes.

Royal Arsenal Riverside

The first of two Bronze awards was for Best Mixed-Use Development. This prize was for Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich, which has already brough 3,500 of 6,000 to the former military site and won many awards in the process. Judges noted: “Berkeley has played a strong part in promoting business from within, with a number of residents opening new businesses in the development. There’s evidence too that this has prompted the regeneration of Woolwich town centre itself. The opening of new cultural attractions and the vastly improved transport connections mean Royal Arsenal Riverside will continue to attract people who want to live, work and play in Greenwich.” Prices here currently start at £542,500.

Finally, the Bronze for Best Sustainable Development was won by Kidbrooke Village in south-west London. Judges admired 86 acres of parkland and around 9,500 trees planted, and the winning of a Sir David Attenborough Award for Enhancing Biodiversity. “Berkeley, true to its vision for the regeneration of the estate from the outset, has created a new urban village – transformative and intuitive, with biodiversity at its heart,” they added.

Find out more about Kidbrooke Village from Berkeley Homes.

Paul Vallone, divisional managing director, Berkeley St Edward and executive chairman, St Edward said: “The What House? Awards truly are the ‘Oscars’ of the housebuilding industry and to win an award is a fantastic accolade. We’re always very proud of the recognition a What House? Award brings, it is testament to the hard work and skill of the Berkeley team in delivering high-quality, beautiful new homes and places for our residents and wider communities to enjoy and benefit from.”

Find out about current developments from Berkeley Homes, St George, St Edward, St James, St Joseph and St William.