Miller Homes has taken the top spot at Homes for Scotland’s annual awards, with the organisation scooping Home Builder of the Year at the trade body’s largest ever ceremony, held in Edinburgh on 25 May 2018.

Presented by comedian Jo Caulfield, the awards showcase the high-quality work that Scotland’s home building industry produces, with stringent judging criteria ensuring the programme’s rigour and robustness.

Miller was crowned Home Builder of the Year as a result of its shortlisting for three different projects, going on to win an award for innovation for its online home purchasing tool and picking up a commendation in the Private Development category for Ashludie Grange in Monifieth. Judges also noted the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by the Miller team during the site visit and interview stage.

Homes for Scotland chief executive, Nicola Barclay, said: “With the independent judging panel declaring the quality of entries received and sites visited to be the best yet, I congratulate Miller Homes for taking the top spot in what was our most highly-contested awards.

“This year’s theme of ‘changing, challenging, collaborating’ was perfectly encompassed by Miller Homes as it demonstrated its commitment to building more homes for Scotland across the Private Development and Innovation and Best Practice categories. The passion and enthusiasm displayed by the team means that they are worthy winners of our 2018 Home Builder of the Year award.”

Stewart Lynes, divisional managing director for Miller Homes in Scotland & North of England, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this recognition at the Homes for Scotland Awards and particularly to be awarded the coveted title of Home Builder of the Year. This is real testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, who are committed to creating high quality developments and ensuring our customers are delighted with their new home.”

Stewart Milne Homes was also recognised on the night, collecting the coveted Private Development of the Year (Large) Award for its Regency Place development in Aberdeen.

Located in Countesswells, the new community features a collection of two, three, four and five bedroom homes each carefully designed for 21st century living.

This award recognises developments that create very special places for people to live; using the best design principles and delivered to a very high quality. The new community has been created by Stewart Milne Homes’ award winning team and features more than 18 different house styles each carefully designed using materials that are sympathetic to the picturesque surroundings while offering the highest quality as standard.

Earlier this year, Countesswells was also awarded the best residential development in Scotland in 2018 by RICS.

Regency Place in Countesswells

John Low, managing director at Stewart Milne Homes, said: “We’re very proud to have been recognised and awarded Private Development of the Year (Large) Award at the Homes for Scotland Awards. Winning such a prestigious accolade is a real testament to our award-winning team who took great care and consideration in the design of the new community at Countesswells.

“Regency Place has been a popular choice amongst a range of buyers looking for beautiful surroundings but with excellent connectivity to Aberdeen city centre as well as the key business parks. The idyllic location, together with our team’s attention to detail in creating homes which build on the distinctive rural setting, has created somewhere really special where people are proud to call home.”

The news follows a successful week for Stewart Milne Homes with three of its site managers awarded Commended status in the NHBC’s annual Health and Safety Awards, including Graham Mann at Regency Place, Countesswells. Ronnie Falconer at Den View (Aberdeen) and Nick Athorn for Winterley Gardens (Winterly) also received recognition.

David Wilson Homes’ flagship development in the west end of Glasgow was awarded ‘Private Development of the Year – Medium’ at the awards.

The judges considered the placemaking elements of the development, architectural design quality, commercial success as well as the impact the development has had on key stakeholders, the supply chain and the industry itself.

David Scott, managing director, David Wilson Homes, said: “The Botanics is the flagship development for David Wilson Homes and to see it celebrated and applauded as the best in the luxury market reflects the hard work of the team at The Botanics who worked tirelessly to bring a luxury vision to life.

“It is exemplary in design, management and build quality which is why we considered it a worth entry for the ‘Private Development of the Year award and we are thrilled that it has been crowned the winner.

“The finishing of the homes, apartments and the development itself is of the highest quality. This has been recognised previously with the site management team being recognised with two national award wins at the NHBC Pride in the Job awards.”

The Homes for Scotland Awards 2018 took place on Friday 25 May at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The independent judging panel comprised:

Andy Mitchell, chair of the independent judging panel and former land director at CALA Homes, said: “My fellow judges and I were hugely impressed by the standard of entries this year, with the shortlisted submissions really brought to life by the people behind them – whether that be the site managers, graduates or apprentices that greeted us during the visits to the shortlisted developments or the senior management teams who demonstrated such passion during interview.

“With the pride and professionalism of all involved so evident, the bar was set to the highest level, and all those on the shortlist were within touching distance of an award. I therefore congratulate all of this year’s finalists and celebrate their achievements in working to ensure that Scotland has more of the homes it desperately needs right across the country.”

The winners of the Awards were as follows:

Private Development of the Year – Large (100+ units) award sponsored by NHBC

Private Development of the Year – Medium (26-99 units) award sponsored by Allied Surveyors Scotland

Private Development of the Year – Small (up to 25 units) award sponsored by Blackadders

Affordable Housing Development of the Year award sponsored by Anderson Strathern

Supporting Organisation of the Year award sponsored by Ground Developments Ltd

Innovation and Best Practice award sponsored by Hacking & Paterson Management Services

Homes for Scotland Home Builder of the Year 2018