FOUR new academic buildings for the University of York have won a gold award from the UK’s Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) for the considerate way they were built.

Yorkshire contractor BAM received the award, one of only three in the whole of Yorkshire for 2010, from more than 12,000 UK site visits made by the inspectors during the year. It places the project in the UK’s best one per cent.

The development comprised the Ron Cooke Hub, new buildings for the Departments of Computer Science and Theatre, Film and Television, and the York Law and Management Schools, which form part of the University’s £750 million campus expansion at Heslington East.

Matthew Garnett, BAM’s construction manager, said: “We had some good ideas about promoting welfare and health and safety and we worked around the university’s concerns to ensure we caused as little disruption to their lives as possible.

He said the work in York created about 4,000 jobs and tens of millions of pounds in local contracts for sub-contractors.

“We were able to encourage young apprentices too, with work experience and placements thanks to the university’s excellent Construction Skills Academy programme. It’s been a very rewarding experience and we’re proud of our time in York,” he said.