The Spool House highly commended at property industry awards

Pickard Properties, the leading Leeds-based property development, management and letting specialist, has received a prestigious property industry award for The Spool House, the latest part of its £40m, Spinning Acres development in Far Headingley.

The Spool House received a Highly Commended Award at the national Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards 2024 in the Best Medium Volume New Housing Development category.

The awards are the largest business-to-business awards in the building control sector in the UK with entries coming from within the LABC’s network of all local authorities in England and Wales.

Featuring a mix of 12 one-and-two-bedroom apartments, The Spool House, which was designed by architects Halliday Clark and built by Dobson Construction, both of which are based in Ilkley, is the fourth phase of Pickard Properties’ ambitious six-acre build-to-rent PRS scheme Spinning Acres.

Constructed from York stone, complementing Spinning Acres mix of other new-build properties, refurbished apartments and newly renovated historic buildings, The Spool House has achieved a B EPC rating, through a focus on the fabric of the building to achieve a high level of efficiency.

The future-proofed, all-electric building has roof-installed solar panels, while the apartments are fitted with radiators containing a natural stone core, which prolongs the heat created to transfer it efficiently around the property.

In addition, each apartment has a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery system, which reduces energy consumption and lowers carbon emissions, as well as improving indoor air quality.

Located in the Far Headingley Conservation and taking its inspiration from the area’s historic links with the textile industry, Spinning Acres has been sympathetically regenerated to create a new community in the Leeds suburb, with the first three phases fully let. 

This is the third time Spinning Acres has been recognised for its quality having been successful in the Best New High Volume Housing Development Award from the LABC in 2018 and, more recently the Best Small Development category in the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards.

Miles Pickard, director of Pickard Properties, said: “We are exceptionally proud The Spool House has been highly commended from such prestigious awards.  The Spool House is a key part of the community we are creating at Spinning Acres, which is creating opportunities for people who want to live in such a prestigious area close to the city centre where it may be inaccessible to purchase.

“Working closely with Halliday Clark and Dobsons we have been very focused on developing an attractive and future-proofed building. We let, manage and maintain our completed properties for the private rental community, which, as a result, means we are invested in everything we build; therefore, the standards of specification and finishes are high and individual to each apartment.

“This allows us to contribute to turning the market on its head by providing long-term rental options that match the aspirations and lifestyle of the people who wish to live here, which is proving to be successful with homes at Spinning Acres in high demand.”

Richard Walsh, Director at Halliday Clark, said: “We are delighted with the LABC recognition of this project, which was governed by particular sensitivity to the Headingley conservation area. The final result demonstrates how a well-coordinated design can result in delightful homes that safeguard people’s safety, health and wellbeing, promoting sustainability and contributing positively to the environment.

“The traditional detailing of the building has only been successful due to the commitment to use high-quality materials. As a family business, Pickard Properties has a reputation for creating high-quality developments within the city and is fully aware of the responsibility in executing a design in this location and to this design.”