A £4 million flagship development in Shrewsbury won a top local award last night for enhancing the built heritage in the area.

Severnside Housing received the Mayor of Shrewsbury Gold Award during a ceremony at the Guildhall in Frankwell.

Rowland Court was developed for Severn Homes by the housing association Severnside Housing. Both operate under Housing Plus Group with Severn Homes specialising in private sector properties for rent, sale and shared ownership.

Sepp Sargeant, Head of Development for Housing Plus Group, who received the certificate, said: “We are delighted to win this award for Rowland Court because it is recognition of all the hard work to replace the former unattractive building with a new development more in keeping with heritage street scene within this gate way of Shrewsbury. It has really improved the look of the area and has provided quality new homes for sale and rent.” 

Describing why Rowland Court received the award, Mayor Councillor Ioan Jones said: “It is such a nice development that’s made a massive difference to this area of Shrewsbury. It’s totally in keeping with the area and when, in the future, people look back it’s a really good representation of what developments look like today.”

Formerly known as Heaths Houses, the site housed 88 one bedroom flats and bedsits which, due to the age of the building, were no longer fit for purpose and hard to let. A feasibility study concluded the redevelopment for open market sales and rent, including affordable homes, was the preferred choice, with the proceeds being used to subsidise the provision of further affordable housing.

The resulting Rowland Court, which was completed in October 2015, has 41 homes including one and two bedroom flats and two and three bedroom houses. Working in partnership with local estate agent, Monks, it was Severn Homes’ first venture into the outright sales market and was a boost to their ever growing portfolio of market rent and shared ownership properties.