National recognition for Blacon sustainability project

We’re thrilled that our efforts to make Blacon Adventure Playground in Chester more environmentally-friendly have been recognised at the National Energy Efficiency Awards.

The playground is managed by Avenue Services – a joint venture between Sanctuary and Cheshire West and Chester Council – and is well-used by local families in Blacon, offering facilities for indoor and outdoor play as well as a city farm.

As part of our commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions, we funded a wide range of sustainability improvements at the site.

These include new solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and an air-source heat pump, while hands-on learning materials are encouraging visitors to find out more about sustainability and the steps everyone can take to make a difference.

We worked with sustainability consultancy Anthesis to design the upgrades and they are already delivering great results, with CO2 emissions at the playground reduced by more than five tonnes a year.

This success was recognised at the National Energy Efficiency Awards, where the project was awarded third place in the Multi-measure Project of the Year category.

Janine Crockett, our head of property sustainability, said: “Sustainability is fundamental to everything we do at Sanctuary, and we’re committed to making a long-term positive difference for our residents and for the benefit of our local communities.

“We’ve already seen this project deliver real and measurable results in Blacon, and we’re thrilled that the efforts of all involved have been recognised with this award.”

The National Energy Efficiency Awards recognise quality and best practice within the UK energy saving and efficiency sector, with this year’s winners announced during a ceremony at the Hilton Metropole hotel in Birmingham.