The acclaimed First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards was a huge success this year, as the highly anticipated event took place on Friday 23rd October. Leading members of the property industry attended the event virtually, as television duo Jonnie Irwin (the face of A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country) and Nicki Chapman (best known for Escape to the Country) reunited to present the awards, which recognise the best of the best in the property industry.

Now in their 11th year, the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards celebrate the companies and individuals that have gone above and beyond to help first time buyers get a foot onto the property ladder. Sponsored by Savills, with awards in 19 categories on offer from Best Show Home to Affordable Housing Provider of the Year, alongside special awards from the judges and editor, the competition to secure a coveted First Time Buyer Readers’ Award was intense.

Lynda Clark, Editor of First Time Buyer Magazine, comments: “It has been a tough year for first time buyers, but with every challenge brings an opportunity to make real difference. The 2020 First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards are all about championing ways to make homeownership achievable, and celebrating the companies that are going over and above the call of duty. This year our shortlisted companies, and of course the winners, really embraced the digital environment, and brought so much excitement and energy to the day.

“The First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards were established to recognise the most ambitious and forward-thinking developers, housing associations, and legal companies. It’s fantastic to see so many of these companies taking to heart the principles that are at the core of what we do at First Time Buyer. We hope that first time buyers are inspired to use our list of winners and highly commended companies as a trusted and reliable starting point to begin their journey to homeownership.”

The shortlists for each category were composed by a panel of expert judges including Mark Bastin (Director, Mark Bastin Associates), Jane Griffiths (Independent Housing Consultant), Marilyn DiCara (Independent Housing Consultant), Lisa Westerman (Director, Lisa Westerman Consultancy), Chris Jones (Managing Partner, Space and Time), Stephen Harker (Managing Partner and Head of Property Department, Dawson Cornwell), Tony Harker (Director and Independent Housing Consultant), and Marcus Wilshere (London Masterplanning Lead, IBI Group). Readers of First Time Buyer Magazine were given the deciding vote through an online system, where they could support their chosen company.

Award results 2020

Best Small Development

Winner: Regenta Development | Winns Avenue

Highly Commended: Southern Home Ownership | Preston Road

Best Urban Regeneration Project
Winner: Catalyst | Portobello Square
Highly Commended: Poplar Harca | Bow Garden Square

Best Partnership

Winner: Home Reach

Highly Commended: Radian Group and Wates Residential

Best Age-Exclusive Housing

Winner: Gecko Homes | Minehead

Highly Commended: EMH | Springfields

Best Law Firm for Conveyancing

Winner: Prince Evans Solicitors LLP

Highly Commended: Direction Law

Best First Time Buyer Apartment

Winner: Higgins Homes | New Stratford Works

Highly Commended: Catalyst | Neon

Best Large Development

Winner: Optivo | Waterway, Riverside Quarter

Highly Commended: Countryside and L&Q | Beaulieu

Best Use of a Government Scheme

Winner: Legal and General Affordable Homes | Leon House

Highly Commended: Peabody | The Reach

Best Supplier to the First Time Buyer Market

Winner: SiteSales Property Group

Highly Commended: The Media People

Most Innovative Marketing Campaign

Winner: Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing | SO Resi

Highly Commended: Notting Hill Genesis | Manor Place Depot

Best Show Home

Winner: Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing | SO Resi Sydenham

Highly Commended: Southern Home Ownership | The Refinery

Best First Time Buyer Family Home

Winner: Peabody | Stonelea Gardens

Highly Commended: Clarion | Lavender Walk

Best New Development in the North

Winner: Riverside Home Ownership | Copper Brook

Highly Commended: Onward | Clifton Gardens

Best New Development in the South

Winner: Inland Homes | Chapel Riverside

Highly Commended: Peters Village

Best Off-Plan Development

Winner: Notting Hill Genesis | Peckham Place

Highly Commended: Plumlife | Foxwood

Private Developer of the Year

Winner: Inland Homes

Highly Commended: Countryside

Affordable Housing Provider of the Year

Winner: Plumlife

Highly Commended: Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing

Judges’ Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to the First Time Buyer Market

Winner: Tony Harker

Highly Commended: Felicity Gentle

The Editor’s Special Award for Services to the Industry

Winner: Simon Scott, Assistant Director Commercial & Property Marketing, Origin Housing