AN innovative Redditch housing co-operative is celebrating after winning a key award at a leading industry ceremony.
Riverside Housing Co-operative won the coveted ‘Inspiring Co-operative of the Year’ at the UK’s annual Co-operative of the Year awards in Wakefield.
Co-ops with a turnover of up to £1million were able to enter the Inspiring Co-operative of the Year, and, with more than 10,000 votes cast, Riverside, part of part of Redditch Co-operative Homes (RCH) with houses in Melbury Way and Wharrad Close in Church Hill, beat off stiff competition from four other co-ops to take the award.
“We are delighted to have won,” said Natalie Lucas, of Riverside. “We are very proud and passionate about what we have created at Riverside, and live in a community that we firmly believe has empowered residents to be in control. Working together, nurturing that cooperative spirit, will enable us to continuously improve our community for the long-term.”
Riverside Housing Co-operative is one of five neighbourhood co-operatives supported by RCH. The co-op offers a range of tenures including shared ownership and co-operative rented properties, and is one of seven organisations in the wider Accord Group.
RCH is partnered by Redditch Borough Council and council leader Bill Hartnett (Lab, Church Hill) said: “This is a great achievement and recognition for the developments and to win the Inspiring Co-op of the Year is a great achievement for a great co-op.”
Receiving the award on behalf of Riverside, Carl Taylor, director at Accord Group, said it had some of the most environmentally-friendly homes in the UK. “We have an outstanding reputation for empowering tenants and developing environmentally-friendly new sites, and are delighted to be recognised for our innovation,” he added.
