Water Colour, Redhill Wins Building for Life Silver Standard Award

Published on 19 November 2010

Water Colour, Redhill – a mixed-use scheme for Linden Homes which has transformed the former Holmethorpe quarry into a sustainable new waterside community – has won a Building for Life Silver Standard Award.

The development, applauded for its "distinctive character" and "exceptionally strong landscaping," was one of only ten schemes awarded from a record selection of 55 that achieved a Building for Life standard.

Building for Life is the national standard for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods which awards new housing schemes that demonstrate a commitment to high design standards and good placemaking.

The mixed-use development comprises 525 new homes, arranged in a series of character areas, set within a landscape created by opening a previously culverted brook. The brook is incorporated through a variety of environments including a new canal and a linear wildlife corridor that forms the heart of a sustainable drainage system and provides a natural habitat for wildfowl.

Considerable importance has been attached to encouraging walking and cycling and a new bus service to local shops and amenities has reduced car-dependency.

Wayne Hemingway, Chair of Building for Life, said: ‘Building for Life has campaigned for good design in new housing for nearly 10 years. This work is paying off. We're finally getting new homes and neighbourhoods that look and work better."

Related Projects

Water Colour,
Redhill, UK

New Neighbourhood
Stage: Completed