2020’s First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards hailed a success
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