True Nottingham (Bendigo Building) has been Highly Commended in the Residential Project of the Year category at the Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards, recognising an outstanding city-centre regeneration scheme.
Delivered for Bricks Group, the £67m development has transformed a long-vacant former Royal Mail site into a vibrant student community, providing 661 high-quality bedrooms in the heart of Nottingham.
Despite significant external challenges, the project team successfully resequenced works and collaborated closely with the supply chain to deliver the scheme ahead of programme and within budget, while maintaining exceptional safety and quality standards.
Innovation was central to delivery, including a low-carbon foundation solution that reused the existing basement slab, significantly reducing embodied carbon, waste and programme time. A data-driven digital strategy and strong supply chain partnerships also helped drive productivity and performance throughout.
The project placed equal emphasis on people and community, achieving over 1.3 million hours worked without a RIDDOR incident, while delivering £22.7m of local spend, as well as apprenticeships and education initiatives. It also introduced Nottingham’s first publicly accessible bleed control cabinet, leaving a lasting social legacy.
This recognition highlights True Nottingham as a benchmark project, demonstrating how collaboration, innovation and sustainability can successfully unlock complex urban sites and deliver lasting value for both clients and communities.
Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said:
We are incredibly proud to have played a key role in delivering True Nottingham. This project demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to quality. To see it recognised in this way is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved.