BASILDON Council picked up wins for two separate projects at the prestigious Essex Housing Awards.

The annual awards recognise high-quality developments, services, and individuals, and promote best practice across the county from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The first council win was in the 'Delivering Services to Vulnerable People' category for its Nevendon Place development, to provide 16 self-contained accommodation units alongside day-to-day support for the borough's rough sleepers in need.

The second award win was in the 'Meeting Housing Need (Large scheme 51+)' category, won for the council's project at Acorn House. The scheme was completed back in March, providing 95 one and two-bedroom homes exclusively for residents on the council's housing register.

The winning Meeting Housing Need team from Basildon.

Cllr Andrew Schrader, Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal, said: "It has been a privilege to watch these award-winning projects being delivered. Each will be life-changing for the local residents who will benefit.

"Be it the 95 local people who are now starting a new life in the much-needed modern new council homes we have delivered at Acorn House, or those residents in need who will be getting so much more than just a bed for the night at Nevendon Place. This brilliant new homeless facility will help transform lives.

"It is great that the hard work of all those who have played a part in delivering these fantastic projects has been properly recognised."

The council's house building company, Sempra Homes, was highly commended in two categories, for 'Housing Professional' - an individual award for Sempra Homes Manager Melanie Keys, and in the 'Excellence in Development (Medium Scheme 26-50)' category for Monarch Place - the creation of 30 stylish one and two bed apartments in Billericay.

Director of Housing and Property, Lesley O'Shea, added: "I'm delighted that the work of Sempra Homes has been recognised in these prestigious county wide awards against projects across the public, private, and voluntary sectors.

"Schemes like Monarch Place are not only visually really attractive developments, but they also help to support the recruitment and retention of vital services in our borough by giving priority to borough residents and workers from the emergency services and teachers from Basildon schools and colleges to purchase the new homes."