Whitefield Crescent wins Regeneration Award at Scottish Borders Building Design Awards
Whitefield Crescent in Newtown St Boswells has been named winner of the Regeneration Award at the Scottish Borders Building Design Awards, recognising an innovative regeneration project delivered by M&J Ballantyne and 56Three Architects on behalf of Scottish Borders Housing Association.
Announced at a ceremony held at the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels on the 11th December, the award celebrates a project that demonstrates how regeneration and conservation can go hand in hand to deliver high-quality, sustainable housing for modern families.
The independent judging panel praised the development for its imaginative redesign and repurposing of eight unpopular, hard-to-let bedsit flats into four spacious, energy-efficient two-bedroom family homes. By retaining and reworking much of the original structure, the project conserved resources, reduced embodied carbon and avoided unnecessary demolition. A former communal stairwell was removed and its footprint repurposed to provide internal stairs and bathrooms within each home and significantly increasing the floor space. Salvaged roof tiles were also reused, reflecting a strong commitment to conservation in practice.
Significant environmental improvements were achieved, with EPC ratings raised from E to B through high-performance insulation, new windows and doors, and the installation of air-source heat pumps. These upgrades reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for tenants, contributing to wider sustainability goals across the Scottish Borders.
Beyond environmental gains, Whitefield Crescent has regenerated a once underused site into desirable family housing that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding neighbourhood. The transformation from eight single-person bedsits to four family homes has increased the site’s capacity to support local families, while also supporting local jobs and apprenticeships during construction.
The Scottish Borders Building Design Awards are assessed by an independent judging panel and celebrate excellence in architecture, regeneration and sustainable design across the region.