One Year On: WhatHouse? Award-Winner Weston Homes

The WhatHouse? Awards 2022 Gala Luncheon – the most prestigious event in the UK housebuilding calendar – takes place on Friday 18 November, and in the run-up to it we are looking back at some of the most successful winners from last year – and today it’s Weston Homes.

The Essex-based housebuilder has won numerous WhatHouse? Awards in the last few years and it picked up two more last year – a Silver for Best Medium Housebuilder and Bronze for Best Starter Home Scheme.

Judges praised the housebuilder’s “innate flair for development and presentation” and its “ability to build for all markets.” They highlighted Weston’s Abbey Quay development, a waterside collection of apartments in Barking where the first phase is now 85% sold, and the striking apartments at Victoria Central, Southend-on-Sea, which is nearly sold out. Gun Hill Park in Aldershot was also noted as an example of mixing historic restoration with brand new homes, centred around the Grade II listed Cambridge Military Hospital.

For Best Starter Home Scheme, the Bronze was won for Edinburgh Way in Harlow, bringing 381 brand new apartments located just moments from the station in a town undergoing major development. This development has also gone from strength to strength over the past 12 months, now 80% sold out but with a range of one- and two-bedroom homes still available from £250,000.

“Weston Homes’ bespoke First-time SecureBuy scheme has been a big factor in making this development a success since its launch in October 2020,” said the judges. This initiative is designed to put first-time buyers on a level playing field with cash-rich investors. It requires a small, refundable reservation fee with which buyers can secure the home they want off-plan, and conditionally exchange for 5%.

The judges also praised the numerous ways buyers can personalise the home with choice of flooring, kitchens etc, but unlike some housebuilders, the price is the same whichever choice the buyer makes. Weston Homes customer service was also noted, providing buyers with a smooth journey through the buying process.

Suzanne Aplin

Reflecting on the last 12 months, Suzanne Aplin, group sales & marketing director at Weston Homes, said: “It has been a great honour for us to win the Silver Award for Medium Housebuilder of the Year 2021. As a result of this high-profile industry award, our customers can be assured of our commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency as well as our track record of delivering an unrivalled all-inclusive specification.

“For us, winning this award was not only about the great sense of pride that was felt in collecting the award on the night, but the year-long recognition that it has given to Weston Homes as a company, reinforcing our reputation for high quality design, build standards and putting our customers at the heart of our business.”

Find out more about current Weston Homes developments.