The lights were dimmed as the nominees for the night’s big award were announced. Then, the winner …. “The Housebuilder of The Year is Northstone!”
Insider’s North West Residential Property Awards were a big moment for our team. Whilst it’s always nice to win awards and soak up the glitz of a ceremony, this one meant a lot to us.
We’re a newcomer. We started on our first site in 2020, on a mission to change the perception of new builds, with stunning, sustainable homes for the design conscious. It was therefore all the sweeter to walk away with the top gong from the respected industry awards.
Northstone Chief Executive Phil Wilson reflected on the win: “We’ve spent the last three years with a focus, designing and developing what makes a Northstone home, how we encourage new communities and how does every aspect of what we do differentiates and evolves the thinking and perception of new homes,” he said. “That takes a lot of painstaking work before you even get on site and a big team effort.”
“Winning ‘Housebuilder of the Year’ is a fantastic recognition that it was all worth it and testament to every hour our team and our partners have put in with the first Northstone developments. It was very special to me and for the team we’ve built. I’m proud and so are they.”
The win was the culmination of a busy 12 months for our team, from launching new sites across the North West (three in one month alone) and seeing new residents call our properties theirs. Alongside the work on site, we’ve been busy building meaningful partnerships too … engaging communities, education providers and charities to make sure we leave lasting legacies in the places we work.
It was a moment for reflection too.
Phil added: “The really meaningful moments stand out. Handing over the keys on our first Jacob’s Place in Bolton, our adapted home for people with extra care needs, springs to mind particularly on a personal level. Its success will be rolled onto future schemes along with other new ideas about housing design and inclusivity.
“I’m proud that our team have spent over 130 hours on community outreach events too, from getting kids on construction sites to volunteering on local projects. It’s important to give back and encourage wider engagement.”
There’s no stopping us now. We’re riding high on the recognition, but we’re not resting on our laurels. This year we’ll be progressing more communities, exploring new ways of creating sustainable homes that are even more energy efficient, and designing new types of homes that respond to the changing needs of society.
But for now, a heartfelt thank you. To our team, partners, residents and anyone who’s shown an interest in the Northstone story so far. It’s been an incredible first chapter and we’re already busy writing the next.
