Senior site manager in Cardiff wins national award for quality of new build homes

A senior site manager in Cardiff, working for leading partnerships developer Lovell, has been recognised as one of Wales’ best after winning a prestigious award for the quality of The Mill development.

Geraint Thomas has won the Seal of Excellence Award in the NHBC (National House Building Council) Pride in the Job Awards, and was also selected to win the Wales Regional Award in the Multi-Storey Builder category.

Geraint’s win comes after he was awarded his third Quality Award win in June 2023, in which he was selected from a field of more than 8,000 UK site managers.

As the most highly regarded competition in the industry, the Pride in the Job Awards celebrate site managers who have achieved the highest standards in housebuilding, ensuring high-quality homes are delivered on time, on safe sites and to exacting construction standards.

Chosen from 443 Quality Award winners, the Seal of Excellence Awards are presented to the best site managers across each region in the UK.

Geraint’s Seal of Excellence Award has been given in recognition of his work on the flagship The Mill development in Canton, Cardiff – Wales’ largest regeneration project delivering 800 mixed-tenure homes in total.

The final phase of the affordable homes programme is well underway and will see 154 affordable properties delivered for rent Tirion Homes and Cadwyn, including 105 apartments and 49 homes, as well as five retail units.

Geraint said: “Following my time at The Mill since joining the company in 2019, I have had the best support from Lovell, and the technical and commercial teams have been on point.

“The final phase of The Mill has been the most challenging and rewarding, as it consists of a mixture of 105 apartments, 49 homes and five retail units. I couldn’t have done any of this on my own, the construction team around me are phenomenal and each have contributed by bringing their experiences to the table. This has been a major part in the success of The Mill.”

James Duffett, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “Winning a Seal of Excellence Award and being acknowledged as one of Wales’ top site mangers is an incredible honour, and Geraint is a very deserved winner.

“His hard work and dedication to making The Mill the best it can be has resulted in the scheme being a huge success, and provided local people with high-quality homes that they can be proud to own. We are all so proud of this achievement, and can’t wait to see Geraint and his team finish the development’s final phase to the same high standards.”

Commenting on the Awards, Luke Carter, NHBC Regional Director for West & Wales said: “Congratulations to Geraint on his first Pride in the Job 2023 Regional Award win. Geraint impressed the judges with his adaptability to new, complex construction types previously unfamiliar to him. Overseeing a complex amalgamation of materials and designs at The Mill in Cardiff, Geraint immersed himself in the detail and showcased his foresight in identifying upcoming obstacles. Evident strides forward and additional attention given to the finer finishes were also noted.

“Judging for the Awards is rigorous and for more than 40 years, Pride in the Job has been an important part of NHBC’s work to help drive construction quality and raise standards in house building. By recognising Geraint as one of the best site managers across the UK, we’re celebrating the vital role he plays in ensuring new homes are delivered on time, on safe sites and to exacting construction quality standards.”

Pride in the Job Seal of Excellence Award winners will now go on to compete for the national Supreme Awards, which will be revealed in January 2024.

The Mill includes 358 homes for open market sale by Lovell, which have now sold out, and 442 homes for rent – which will be managed by Cadwyn Housing Association – for Tirion Homes. The scheme is going ahead with the support of the Welsh Government and financial backing from the Principality Building Society, and is being developed by Tirion Homes in partnership with Lovell. For more details, visit https://www.tirionhomes.co.uk/the-mill/.

Lovell is a leading provider of partnership housing, and has been building communities for over 50 years. For more information, visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/.

For details on the Pride in the Job Awards, visit https://www.nhbc.co.uk/awards-and-events/pride-in-the-job.