LABC Building Excellence Awards 2025 winner: Best Partnership with a Local Authority Building Control Team

LABC is delighted to announce that the WINNER of the Best Partnership with a Local Authority Building Control Team is Hoare, Ridge & Morris with East Suffolk Council

The partnership between East Suffolk Council’s building control team and Hoare, Ridge and Morris has been built on over a decade of collaboration, delivering projects that range from sensitive historic restorations to complex listed building conversions. This relationship has enabled early engagement at the design stage, ensuring compliance while preserving architectural integrity. The practice is renowned for its craftsmanship and sustainability-led approach, combining traditional hand-drawn design with modern technology. Together, the partnership has consistently delivered award-winning projects that balance energy efficiency, fire safety, and heritage sensitivity, even within challenging constraints.

What makes this partnership exceptional is its proactive, solutions-focused approach. Regular CPD sessions, informal design reviews, and open communication has strengthened trust and efficiency, enabling innovative solutions such as breathable insulation systems for historic buildings. This collaborative model ensures projects exceed regulatory standards while maintaining the highest levels of quality and sustainability, making the partnership a benchmark for best practice in conservation and adaptive reuse.

Comments from the judges:

“This feels like a very strong partnership that delivers social value on both sides. The company has completed research into natural and breathable materials which shows a commitment to improving the whole life performance of our built environment.” 

A range of categories celebrated on the night highlight the diverse portfolio of projects delivered within the industry alongside the project teams that are committed to delivering compliant and high-quality buildings for our communities.  

Full list of LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Final award winners: www.labc.co.uk/awards