Winner - Creevagh Heights/Sean Dolan's GAC, submitted by Radius Housing
Radius Housing Association has led this complex project through all its stages, synthesising multiple stakeholders, zoning issues and the local community into a mutually beneficial development scheme. The entry scored highly on all the criteria, in particular its approach to community and stakeholder engagement and inclusive planning. The whole scheme with environmental improvements alongside the enhanced community and sports facilities have created a housing area to be proud of. The creative engagement (getting schools to research and name the development) demonstrated how with the local community on board the outcome is valued. The project was successful in overcoming the challenge of lost recreational zoned land. By working with the Council, the local community and developers the scheme has resulted in facilities that contribute to social well being. The challenges faced by the proposal and in the innovative ways the application has dealt with them are exactly the reason we need such awards, this is an exemplar approach.
From a design perspective the sports hall ‘glows’ like a beacon as the evenings darken, providing a striking new landmark on the elevated slopes of the Creggan, which can be seen for miles.
Overlooking the River Foyle and Waterside area from its lofty position, Creevagh provides a housing and community facility that has a hugely positive impact on the surrounding new and established communities. It demonstrates how a ‘thinks outside of the box’ approach can provide a planning and design solution that adds additional value beyond the bricks and mortar.