Shenfield Project Shortlisted for Essex Housing Awards 2025

DCH Construction is proud to announce that our Shenfield Library project has been shortlisted in the Small Housing Schemes (1–24 homes) category at the 2025 Essex Housing Awards. This recognition celebrates innovative, community-focused developments that deliver both high-quality public facilities and sustainable new homes within Essex’s growing towns and villages.

View more photos of Novus and Shenfield Library.

Project Background

In late 2022, DCH Construction was appointed principal contractor by Essex Housing to deliver an ambitious mixed-use scheme: nine eco-friendly, luxury apartments crowning a new, energy-efficient community library. The sale of these high-spec apartments funded the replacement of the ageing 1960s building, and the project was completed and officially opened to the public on 25 February 2025.

Key Highlights

• Innovative mixed-use funding model that reinvested apartment sales into the community infrastructure, minimising public subsidy
• Nine high-quality one- and two-bed private apartments above the library, delivered to EPC A standard and offering air source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, solar panels, and electric vehicle charging points
• Brand-new, purpose-built library designed to maximize natural light and flexible layouts, supporting everything from toddler Rhyme Time sessions to adult learning groups
• An adjacent commercial space creating an active high-street frontage and revenue to support library services
• A public garden and outdoor learning area, creating a welcoming civic space and enhancing the library’s educational offer

Award Shortlist and Ceremony

This year’s Essex Housing Awards saw a record number of entries. A panel of leading housing professionals convened in July to review entries, and the Shenfield Library project earned its place among five finalists in the Small Housing Schemes category. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on 16 October at Hylands House in Chelmsford, where industry peers will celebrate innovation and excellence in Essex housing.

This project being shortlisted is a proud moment for all of us at DCH. We’re immensely grateful to Essex Housing, Essex County Council, Chetwoods Architects and every partner whose passion has breathed life into this project.