Communal outdoor spaces and back yards around the UK could be in for a make-over as part of the 40th birthday celebrations for one of the country’s leading 5-star housebuilders.
Stewart Milne Group is launching a campaign to celebrate its ruby anniversary that will provide funding or people or materials to restore or improve run-down community spaces in the north-east of Scotland, central Scotland and north-west of England.
To mark the milestone of reaching four decades in business and to give back to the communities in which it operates, the company is today launching RUBY (Regenerating Urban Back Yards).
Members of the public, special interest groups, charities and community councils are being invited to nominate an outdoor space in need of improvement. Members of the public will be able to vote for the ones they feel deserve support through social media channels. A judging panel comprising Stewart Milne Homes North-east Scotland managing director – John Low, Press & Journal editor – Damian Bates and Aberdeen Greenspace Trust chief officer - Michelle Herd will make the final decision on the winners.
The winning projects could include a memorial statue or park bench, a piece of outdoor art or sculpture, the upgrade of a children’s playpark, the creation of a new green space or outdoor place for elderly people to enjoy or the construction of sheds for allotments.
John Low said: “For forty years we have been building homes for people in a variety of communities. We have benefited from the communities in which we work and, as part of marking this significant milestone, we want to give something back to those communities.
“A home is about much more than the house itself, it’s about a safe and attractive place to live and enjoy with a mix of amenities. Communal outdoor places are important for everyone from children to the elderly but, in some areas, there is a lack of pleasant outdoor spaces or eyesores which need a bit of love and attention. Our campaign aims to lavish a bit of love on these spaces. Whether it’s providing landscape gardeners to design and plant colourful flower beds, or tradespeople to re-build a wall and carry out repairs or providing materials for a children’s activity park, we will consider all types of projects which will benefit as many people as possible. We will not be able to help every individual or group and will give priority to communities in which we build homes. We have allocated significant resources to this campaign and will endeavour to support projects which have the greatest impact on their community.”
Stewart Milne Group may allocate direct funds towards the chosen projects or provide the materials and/or people to carry out the improvements.
The deadline for submission of nomination forms which are available at www.stewartmilne.com is October 16, 2015. The winners will be announced in November and projects will get underway as soon as possible subject to weather and availability of materials and labour.
Michelle Herd added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for communities in the North-east and we would encourage as many people as possible to put forward ideas for improving outdoor areas in their communities. Stewart Milne Group’s generosity and commitment to our communities has to be applauded. With public funding under intense pressure, private-led initiatives such as this are very welcome and I am looking forward to playing a role in selecting projects which will have a positive impact on local communities and people.”
Established in Aberdeen in 1975, Stewart Milne Group now operates across Scotland and the north-west of England. It is also a leading supplier of innovative timber systems solutions to the UK construction industry from its manufacturing facilities in Aberdeenshire and Oxfordshire.
The Stewart Milne Group is one of only 15 housebuilders in the UK to be awarded five star status by the industry this year. Its continued commitment to quality and customer care saw it awarded the top accolade by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for the fourth year running. The independent industry award recognises the 90% customer satisfaction rating achieved across the Group’s housing divisions in north and central Scotland and north-west England.