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Higgins Construction stood out in a competitive field because, as the main contractor for the regeneration of 30 housing estates this year, it has taken a three-pronged approach to its regeneration responsibilities. First, this 44-year-old company has streamlined its construction process with the help of six new pre-construction teams, to provide a better quality of build and better value for its clients and residents. Second, it has in place a community development team of resident liaison officers who bridge the gap between residents’ expectations and the project’s technical brief. And third, Higgins has formed a partnership with training charity CSV to fill the skills gaps in construction and bring new opportunities to London communities undergoing regeneration. Not too shabby …

Higgins launches the first new-build homes at Charlton Triangle in south-east London

Runners-up

On every project it works on, Alfred McAlpine sets up a community initiative: this year it initiated a schools mural project, helped organise a sports day and held a party for elderly residents. And that’s as well as playing a part in the regeneration of former Welsh mining town New Tredegar, the renewal of the rundown Vancouver Centre in King’s Lynn and the construction of an industrial park on a brownfield site in the West Midlands.

Birse Civils (North-East)

The remediation and regeneration of an old colliery is not an easy task, especially when it involves turning half into a nature reserve. But this didn’t put Birse Civils off. The firm ensured that its work on Dinnington Colliery in Yorkshire was as eco-friendly as possible – by reusing recovered materials and relocating local wildlife. It also involved the stakeholders and community and made use of local labour, winning itself a silver Considerate Constructors Award in the process.

Carillion ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø

The fact that in the past year Carillion ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø has created the role of urban regeneration sector director demonstrates the firm’s dedication to this area. As does its track record. It has finished a five-star hotel and luxury apartment block in on a brownfield Liverpool site, completed enabling works for the renovation of listed 19th century mill buildings in Manchester and provided the Isle of Thanet in Kent with a brand new shopping centre. And next year looks like it will be equally busy …

Keepmoat

There can be no doubt but that Keepmoat is a model regeneration contractor. It specialises in refurbishing social housing and has refurbished more than 30,000 homes in the past year alone. But what really makes it stand out is the way that it goes about its business. It employs more than 100 resident liaison officers, uses local labour whenever possible and all its sites subscribe to the Considerate Constructors scheme. If only every contractor out there had such impressive credentials.

WSP Remediation

When it comes to the revitalisation of contaminated land, WSP is your firm. Since it set up in 1999, it has grown into a business that turns over £10m a year and employs 54 staff. In response to the Landfill Directive and the increasing redevelopment of brownfield sites, it has developed physical, biological and chemical treatments to deal with contaminated soil and groundwater on site. This does a great deal more good than simply moving the problem on and earns it a big thumbs-up.