A talented site manager at Russell Armer Homes has achieved industry recognition for his work on the restoration and redevelopment of a nineteenth-century home in Ambleside. Ian Hunt, who has worked on a number of developments for the Cumbria-based housebuilder, was selected for the Pride in the Job award by a team of NHBC judges after being suitably impressed by the high-quality Russell Armer development at Lesketh How, on Rydal Road.
Now in its 39th year, NHBC’s Pride in the Job award acknowledges the exceptional contribution made by site managers in creating homes of outstanding quality. Picking winners is a tough and time-consuming process: around 250 judges are tasked with whittling down 16,000 entrants to just 450 first-round winners – only the very best make it through this stage. It’s especially rewarding for Ian and his team, as they represent a local builder competing against much larger developers in a nationwide competition.
Lesketh How is a remarkable achievement. Built as a grand family home, it has been beautifully transformed into six unique two-storey homes with new additions that seamlessly integrate with the original structure and feature sleek contemporary interiors. These character homes enjoy private terraces – most with Fell views – as well as access to wooded communal gardens – all just a few hundred metres from the centre of Ambleside.
NHBC inspectors spotted the high standards of site management during routine visits to the development and recognised the part that Ian played in its smooth running, despite the constrained space on site and the challenges of sensitively completing a project of significant local and historical importance.
Ian says: ‘Winning the Pride in the Job award is an amazing achievement for me but it’s also an endorsement of the entire team who’ve worked so diligently on this very special project. I’ve been involved in a lot of conversions but I’m especially proud of Lesketh How. We’ve had lovely feedback from the new homeowners – their praise for the development has been really humbling. I feel very fortunate to have been part of what’s turned out to be a dream project.’
Steve Wood, Chief Executive of NHBC commented: ‘Congratulations to our award-winning site managers. Competing against 16,000 of their peers, the winners have demonstrated excellent standards onsite and affirmed their commitment to producing homes of exceptional quality.’
Ian is set to attend a winners’ lunch in October at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate and will go on to compete for the Seal of Excellence Awards and Regional Winner titles.
Russell Armer has won a number of industry awards in recent months, including the LABC (North) Building Excellence Award for Kendal development The Avenue and the UK Property Award for Best Residential Development (Cumbria) for Tenterfield on Brigsteer Road. Tenterfield was also the recipient of a coveted award from Kendal Civic Society for its positive contribution to the town’s characterful built environment.
