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North Cornwall: LOSTWITHIEL SCHEME IS BEST IN WEST

An £8.3 million riverside homes development in Lostwithiel, including the restoration of a fire-damaged former Brunel rail depot, has been judged “best building in Devon and Cornwall� and warmly praised by Lord Hattersley, former deputy leader of the Labour Party.


Wombwell Homes’ Brunel Quays,, locally financed by NatWest and recently completed with 54 apartments and town houses, won the south west regional sector of the annual Faculty of Building Design Awards.

A commemorative plaque for the company and certificates for all professionals involved were presented during a prestige dinner attended by 350 people at the Plymouth Hoe Moat House Hotel.

Presenting the awards, guest speaker Lord Hattersley praised Wombwell Homes for their achievement at Lostwithiel and commented: “With so much poor design around, it is very satisfying to learn of such a quality sensitive site.�

Ian Russell, secretary of Faculty of Building South West, said: “Brunel Quays ticked all the boxes – it cleaned up a contaminated brown field site superbly.�

Developed over three years, Brunel Quays triggered long-awaited regeneration of the rundown riverside area. The former Brunel rail depot, converted into eight three-storey four-bedroom town houses, had lain derelict for nearly 20 years after a disastrous fire.

“This project did not have the smoothest of rides and initially came in for a lot of very unfair criticism in some local quarters,� said Wombwell Homes chairman John Wombwell, “but this award speaks volumes for the quality of Brunel Quays and is a tremendous credit to everyone who has been involved in the project.�

It was Wombwell Homes’ most ambitious project to date and the company described it as unique in Cornwall, creating high quality new riverside homes in an excellent location as well as restoring the depot.

The scheme has also won praise from the Commission For Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), who have cited it in lectures as a prime example of how the new can blend with the old.


A spokesman forNathan Waller, associate director at NatWest in Devon, the scheme’s financier commented:
“This development is an exciting project and we are pleased to have been able to be involved at a local level.e development required a substantial investment which has created an outstanding residential development for the local area. The success output rewards reflects the commitment of everyone involved ion the project. We are extremely pleased for John and his team and look forward to working with them moving forward., and are proud to have been involved�

The Plymouth dinner was attended by Steve Gardner, Wombwell Homes contracts manager, and Tony Howes, of Design and Drafting in Truro, who designed the Brunel Quays buildings.

The panel of judges comprised Lynne Staley-Brookes, principal, Plymouth College of Art and Design, Jeremy Gould, architect, historian and lecturer, Graham Steen, Faculty of Building South West, and John Bracey, architect.

Founded in 1946, the Faculty of Building embraces professions and specialists engaged in the construction process. It aims to promote unity and understanding and to exchange and enhance knowledge through activities including technical forums, conferences, lectures and newsletters.