A housing development built on the site of the historic former Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital has been named Development of the Year in the Welsh Housing Awards.
The 82-home Beeches Village was completed in January 2015 by developers Lovell and housing association United Welsh.
The scheme was designed to be ‘tenure blind’ private properties being indistinguishable from social housing.
A major project of the development was the preservation of the original hospital building called the Beeches.
Originally a mansion owned by mining contractor Frederick Piggott, local colliers launched a fund to buy the building and turn it into a hospital.
The charity Caerphilly Miners Community Group now runs the building as a community centre.
As well as the Development of the Year title, the scheme also won the People’s Choice category at the Welsh Housing Awards.
The awards judges said of The Beeches Village: “What is extremely impressive about this development is how the history of the place and link to the proud past of the Miners’ hospital site has been maintained. The partners have gone way over and above just developing new affordable homes.”
United Welsh chief executive Anthony Whittaker said: “I am particularly pleased the judges were impressed with the way the development has helped to preserve a very important landmark transforming the old Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital into a community centre.
“We have had fantastic feedback from the people living on The Beeches and are delighted to have been able to create a thriving new community in a great location.”
Lovell area manager Meurig Jones says: “The former Miners’ Hospital is deeply rooted in the local community, having been created through the generosity of the local mineworkers. The vision for the project has always been to continue and celebrate that inspiring community tradition and support local people and organisations wherever possible throughout the progress of the development.
Cllr David Poole, Caerphilly Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, added: “On behalf of the council, I would like to congratulate all partners involved in securing this prestigious award. Caerphilly Council continues to lead the way in Wales.”
Earlier this year, the development won the Residential category in the 2015 RICS (Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors) Awards for Wales. Lovell has also received two National Considerate Constructors Scheme awards in recognition of its work on the project.