Muir Group Housing Association has received a New Year Honours award for the transformation of a disused building into its environmentally friendly headquarters.
The association received the Chairman’s Special Award on Wednesday, February 12, at a presentation lunch held in Bishop Lloyd’s Palace, Chester.
The annual award is organised by Chester Civic Trust to recognise the positive changes within the local built environment, including buildings, signage, street furniture and art.
Muir Group received the award after investing £2m into the old NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency offices in Lightfoot Street, Hoole, Chester.
The property which remained empty for some years has been transformed into the new headquarters for just under 100 of Muir Group’s employees and was designed with features such as triple glazed windows and an efficient heating system to minimise its environmental impact.
“We would like to thank the Chester Civic Trust for this award and are delighted that our new headquarters have been recognised in this way by a group representing the residents of Chester,” said David Booth, chairman of Muir Group who attended the event to receive the award on behalf of the housing group.
“Winning the award is a tremendous accomplishment for Muir Group and recognises the hard work that went into creating an environmentally friendly headquarters that provides more efficient services for residents and an enjoyable workplace for staff,” said Catherine Dixson, chief executive of Muir Group.
“I would like to thank our staff and residents who have played a massive part in helping Muir Group achieve this award.”
The annual awards which have been held for the past eight years are based on nominations made by members of Chester Civic Trust and includes categories such as public art, buildings, maintenance and cleanliness.
Established in 1968, Muir Group is a housing association that manages over 5,000 properties offering a wide range of tenures across the country.
Many of its homes are situated in Chester and the wider Cheshire area. The association aims to provide quality and affordable housing for those in need.
