On 18 April, the run of nine Considerate Constructors Scheme 2008 National Awards ceremonies came to an end. Some 2050 guests attended this year’s ceremonies, held at the Plaisterers’ Hall in London. From over 6,500 eligible sites, 473 were selected as National Award winners in the categories of Gold (54), Silver (142) and Bronze (277). The Awards were presented by a number of leading industry figures.

The 2008 Most Considerate Site Award went to Birse Civils Ltd, in conjunction with English Partnerships and New East Manchester, for its Beswick Regeneration project, in Manchester.

This major project demanded the creation of infrastructure and below ground works on a brownfield site being developed by other contractors, situated close to schools, a church and some residential properties.

In the Award citation, the Scheme particularly noted the dedication of the site team to considerate site practices in every area, and their positive engagement with the local community in which they were working. In addition to regular meetings with the residents’ steering committee, the team provided support for local schools and liaised closely with the area’s police headquarters and with the local church. An exemplary standard of environmental conservation was also maintained and the standard of site presentation was extremely high at all times. The company also sought to generate the same spirit of cooperation and consideration amongst other contractors working on the site.

Commenting on this year’s Awards, the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Chairman, Norman Reed, said “We are delighted, once again, to celebrate the finest examples of considerate construction, and to applaud the skills and dedication of all the Award winners. With another record number of Awards this year, the standards grow ever higher, confirming the real commitment of the industry to considerate site practice”.