AN ELLESMERE business has been recognised as one of the best in its industry in a global engineering competition.

Greenspace Architects went up against the creme-de-la-creme of the architecture-world at the international New Civil Engineer TechFest gala awards dinner in London recently.

And although the Wharf Road firm was pipped to the post for the top spot by City of Helsinki 3D+, it received a High Commendation for its work undertaken with Shropshire Council on the ONE Housing Scheme in the Cities Visionary category.

The category celebrates how technology and thoughtful person-centred designs can combine to help people live better, independent lives, regardless of age and ability.

A spokesman for New Civil Engineer commended the firm for its achievements despite not coming first in the competition.

“High commendations are not to be taken as lip service,” they said. “To have been recognised by the judges as an outstanding entrant in a category, although not the winner, is an amazing achievement in itself.”

Kevin Slack, director of Greenspace Architects, was delighted to have been recognised for the company’s work on the ONE Housing Scheme.

“We have risen to the challenge of an exemplary brief,” he said. “And the outcomes of pioneering work such as The Broseley Project to create an exceptional masterplan as a model to help Shropshire meet its housing needs in a low carbon, low energy economy.

“The well-being of the residents is at the heart of the brief, based on light, airy accessible homes set in car-free green spaces with good opportunities for social interaction and food production.”

And Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s director of adult social care and housing, added: “The ONE Housing Scheme is something that we’re particularly proud of and we’re so pleased that it has been recognised as one of the best in the world.

“As many will know, Shropshire has an ageing population and we’re keen to address this by providing homes that people can and want to live in for longer.

“These proposed homes offer something really quite different to what’s on the open market today – they will be designed around the people who will live in them, built with thought and care, and within a welcoming community setting.”