黑洞社区

The judges were unanimous in their choice of Thomas Vale as the out and out winner of this category. 鈥淎 strong example of transforming an area that few people had an interest in or were prepared to help regenerate,鈥� they said. What Thomas Vale did to earn this praise, and indeed this prize, was to take the outdated and underused Tollgate Shopping Centre in Smethwick, West Midlands, and turn it into a pleasant, welcoming and functional environment with a budget of just 拢700,000. This was achieved by getting the architect, contractor and developer on board at an early stage and ensuring all designs were as cost-effective and functional as possible. A challenge it certainly was, but not one to defeat Thomas Vale.

The dramatic architecture of the new Tollgate Shopping Centre is helping revitalise this outdated retail destination

Runners-up

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think many homeowners would have given the village a second look seven years ago, but now it is becoming a sustainable community 鈥� a place where people want to live.鈥� This is what John Prescott had to say about the result of Keepmoat鈥檚 investment in Grimethorpe a former mining village in Barnsley. And when you consider the firm undertook the first residential development in the village for more than 30 years, it seems a whole lot more impressive.

Lennox Estate, wandsworth 鈥� Higgins Construction

It is a familiar problem 鈥� an abandoned underground car park that became a focus for crime. The council鈥檚 solution was to appoint Higgins to demolish Lennox Estate鈥檚 car park and turn it into six oversize two- and three-bedroom family flats with a 5400 m2 network of gardens. But it wasn鈥檛 easy 鈥� technical challenges beset the contractor through the demolition and construction, making final completion a real cause for celebration.

Nar Ouse, king鈥檚 lynn 鈥� Mouchel Parkman

You鈥檝e got a 50 ha site in King鈥檚 Lynn ripe for regeneration, but there鈥檚 one problem 鈥� it needs serious decontamination. Mouchel Parkman worked as part of an innovative partnership on a two-year 拢13m remediation project that laid the foundation for the development of this land. The future benefits for the community will be 1550 jobs, 700 homes, commercial schemes and a major new route through the area. Not bad for an old dumping ground.

Pride in Camp Hill, nuneaton

This organisation鈥檚 name says it all 鈥� it is dedicated to investing the residents of the rundown Camp Hill in Nuneaton with a pride in their community that has been lacking for years. That鈥檚 no surprise given the scale of deprivation and the associated crime that has characterised the area. A community hub, residents鈥� forum, youth project, early years centre and opportunities centre are some of the initiatives that are already having a positive impact and giving the area fresh hope.

Royal Arsenal, woolwich 鈥� Berkeley Homes

Take 76 ha of derelict and contaminated land in a deprived part of London and turn it into a vibrant community. If that isn鈥檛 a challenge, I don鈥檛 know what is. Berkeley Homes took a huge risk in taking on the Royal Arsenal as it was the first developer to come into Woolwich with a scheme of this scale. Its success is evident in that the 15-year project has attracted other developers into the area and people now recognise it as a great place to live and work.