On 29 April, at the Building New Communities Conference, the highly anticipated Essex Housing Awards, in association with Birketts (marking their fourth year as headline partners), launched with the aim to celebrate the progress and innovations in the Essex housing sector.

The Awards will be brought together in partnership with the Essex Developers Group (EDG), the South Essex Housing Group (SEHG), and the Essex Housing Officers Group (EHOG).

Steven Kay, Partner and Joint Head of Residential Development at Birketts, said: “Birketts is again proud to support the Essex Housing Awards as they mark their fifth anniversary.

“Each year, we’ve sponsored and attended the award ceremony and witnessed the significant impact they have on individuals and businesses. These awards recognise and honour the people and projects that are making a difference across the housing sector in Essex. From brilliant builds to community-focused initiatives, they celebrate the best of what housing can be. If you’re doing great work in the public, private or voluntary sectors, now is the time to shout about it.”

The event will showcase the best housing schemes, projects and partnerships across the county. This year, we have twelve categories open for entry, with a closing deadline of Friday, 27 June.

Find all twelve award categories below:

1. Small Housing Schemes (1-24 homes)

2. Medium Housing Schemes (25-100 homes)

3. Large Housing Schemes (101+ homes)

4. Excellence in Design and Placemaking

5. Excellence in Construction Skills

6. Climate Action – Decarbonisation Retrofit

7. Climate Action – Decarbonisation New Build

8. Meeting Housing Need – Specialist Housing

9. Meeting Housing Need – Homelessness

10. Smart Working

11. Housing and Development Professional of the Year

12. The Mo Slade Rising Star Award

The awards emphasise the most important themes in the housing industry, reflecting popular categories from previous years. The Climate Action category has been divided into two specialised categories: Climate Action – Decarbonisation Retrofit and Climate Action – Decarbonisation New Build. Similarly, the Meeting Housing Need category has been expanded to include homelessness prevention and specialist housing. The Smart Working category, which received strong interest last year, remains this year. This award recognises organisations that demonstrate how smart working, including digital technology, has significantly improved outcomes, such as increasing ease of use or reducing costs for residents and communities.

Mark Curle, Chair, Essex Developers Group, said: “The Essex Housing Awards are back – and we couldn’t be more excited!

“It’s been great to witness the growth of the Awards over the years, and we’re confident that this fifth year will bring even more enthusiasm and brilliant entries.

“The awards not only celebrate the county’s commitment to quality housing, but also highlight the themes shaping our sector. I encourage everyone across Essex’s public, private, and voluntary housing sectors to get involved, share their achievements, and help uplift the communities we’re all proud to serve.”

Helen McCabe, Chair, South Essex Housing Group, said: “The Essex Housing Awards continue to play a vital role in championing collaboration and innovation across our sector. As a partner, South Essex Housing Group is proud to support an event that recognises the tireless efforts of housing professionals and the positive impact they make in our communities every day.”

Tim Clarke, Chair, Essex Housing Officers Group, said: “The Essex Housing Awards offer more than recognition – they serve as a catalyst for knowledge sharing, innovation, and sector-wide inspiration.

“Essex generates £4.7bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually and supports regional growth well beyond its borders. Looking ahead, the sector has a pipeline of projects forecast to deliver 35,000 new homes and £26bn of infrastructure investment by 2040. These awards provide an important platform to acknowledge those shaping this ambitious future, honouring excellence through a time of transformation.”

Once nominations are received, a panel of expert judges composed of housing practitioners and advisors from both the public and private sectors will review each entry, determining the winners for each category. Participants will then come together at an elegant evening ceremony, likely to draw 200 people, to announce this year’s winners.

The awards are open to nominations from builders, housing associations, local authorities, contractors, agents, and voluntary sector organisations delivering housing services in Essex. Besides the awards, each entrant benefits from the platform by providing them with recognition for their contributions to the housing sector and the Essex community.

For more information and to enter, visit: https://www.housingessex.org/essex-housing-awards-2025/