Roe Wood Park Wins NHBC Award: Harold Hill 2026

Key Points

• The Roe Wood Park residential housing scheme in Harold Hill, East London, has received the national National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Quality Award.
• Senior site manager Adam Knauer was awarded the distinction for outstanding construction quality and site management excellence.
• The 120-home project is being constructed by national housebuilder Bellway in a joint venture partnership with Mercury Land Holdings (MLH), Havering Council’s wholly owned housing company.
• The scheme provides a mix of housing, including 47 affordable properties handed over to Havering Council alongside private rented units managed by MLH.
• Mr Knauer, a local Hornchurch resident, studied construction management on the exact site at the former Quarles Campus before returning as senior manager for his first full site project.

Harold Hill (East London Times) September 16, 2026 – A major residential housing development located in Harold Hill, East London, has been officially recognised on a national stage after securing a premier industry award for site management and building standards. As reported by the news team at the Romford Recorder and official releases from the London Borough of Havering press office, the Roe Wood Park development off Tring Gardens was awarded the prestigious National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Quality Award. The national accolade was formally presented to Adam Knauer, senior site manager at Bellway, who oversaw all construction processes on the scheme.

As documented by local reporting, the development is being delivered through a strategic joint partnership between national housebuilder Bellway and Mercury Land Holdings (MLH)—a corporate housing entity fully owned by Havering Council. The NHBC Pride in the Job program represents one of the highest industry accolades for housebuilders across the United Kingdom, judging candidates on strict criteria including overall construction quality, technical capability, leadership skills, and site safety management.

What did Havering Council and housing leaders say about the achievement?

Highlighting the importance of the recognition for local housing standards, key stakeholders from local government and housing enterprise commented on the national win. As reported by local media outlets, Councillor Robert Whitton, Havering Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, stated that:

“This award is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of everyone involved in delivering Roe Wood Park. It demonstrates the high standards we expect from development in Havering and shows that we can build homes that residents are proud to live in.”

Councillor Whitton elaborated further on the personal significance of the site leadership, noting:

“It is particularly satisfying to know that Adam is a Havering resident and previous student at the Quarles Campus site who is helping to shape the homes for local people.”

The cabinet member also addressed the broader corporate framework behind the initiative, stating that Mercury Land Holdings plays a central role in supporting the local authority’s long-term housing vision: “Mercury Land Holdings has an important role to play in supporting the Council’s ambitions for growth and regeneration. Through MLH, we have an opportunity to deliver quality homes, attract investment, unlock development opportunities and ensure that regeneration benefits local communities.” Councillor Whitton stated that the local authority’s objective is to deploy MLH to drive new housing stock, support economic activity, and fulfill the council’s overall “2040 Vision for Havering” to create what he described as “London’s Super Suburb.”

Endorsing the achievements of the site construction staff, Christopher Hobbs, Managing Director of Mercury Land Holdings, also issued a statement regarding the partnership. As recorded by press reports, Mr Hobbs stated:

“Mercury is delighted that its joint venture partner has been awarded such a prestigious award. It reflects the quality we aspire to as a company and we are pleased to have a number of private rented units on the site that gives Havering residents more choice in where they live.”

How did site manager Adam Knauer react to receiving the distinction?

For 35-year-old Hornchurch resident Adam Knauer, the NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award represented a significant personal and professional milestone. As reported by journalist reporting across regional outlets, Mr Knauer had previously attended Quarles College to study construction management, learning his trade on the exact plot of land off Tring Gardens where the new residential neighborhood now stands.

Reflecting on his progression and the receipt of the award, Mr Knauer stated:

“I’m really delighted to win a Pride in the Job Quality Award. It’s something that I have always wanted and it’s something you can achieve only so many times in your career. This is the first site that I have run from start to finish so it’s a really big confidence boost.”

Speaking about the location where the residential homes are being built, Mr Knauer added:

“I went to Quarles College to learn construction management, so it’s gone full circle now I’m back as the site manager building homes here.”

According to statistics published by the NHBC, site managers who obtain a Pride in the Job Award represent the top five percent of residential building managers nationwide.

Background of the particular development after the news

The Roe Wood Park construction project sits on land previously occupied by the Quarles Campus of Havering College of Further and Higher Education in Harold Hill. Following the consolidation of college facilities, the land off Tring Gardens was earmarked for residential housing development to address the expanding requirement for housing within the London Borough of Havering.

To bring the project to fruition, Havering Council arranged a joint partnership between commercial housebuilder Bellway Thames Gateway and Mercury Land Holdings (MLH). MLH was established by the local authority as a wholly owned commercial entity designed to develop private rented homes, acquire property, and deliver regeneration schemes across the borough without putting direct strain on public funds.

The final construction plans for Roe Wood Park comprise a total of 120 brand-new properties. The development mix includes private sale houses alongside a set of private rental units managed by MLH. Crucially to local housing targets, the master plan incorporates 47 affordable units that are directly allocated to Havering Council for social and affordable rent allocation, aiding local families requiring council-backed housing. The project marks a key completed section of the borough’s broader brownfield land redevelopment effort.

Prediction: How this development can affect the local community, housing seekers, and the local economy

The successful delivery and formal national recognition of the Roe Wood Park development will likely exert several direct and indirect impacts on local residents, property buyers, and the municipal council:

• Increased High-Quality Housing Stock: With 47 designated affordable homes transferred to Havering Council, the project will immediately ease local housing waiting lists in Harold Hill. Families securing these properties will gain access to modern homes certified by national construction bodies for high structural quality and safety standards.
• Validation of Local Authority Housing Models: The successful joint venture between Bellway and Mercury Land Holdings provides a proven blueprint for municipal housing delivery. Demonstrating that council-owned property entities can build top-tier housing schemes will likely lead Havering Council and neighbouring London boroughs to approve similar joint venture models for other vacant council-owned sites.
• Local Employment and Training Validation: The career path of site manager Adam Knauer highlights the value of local vocational education. His journey from studying construction at Quarles College to managing the redevelopment of the same land provides a visible showcase for local apprenticeships and vocational training in East London, potentially boosting enrollment in regional vocational colleges.
• Economic Boost for Harold Hill: The addition of 120 households to the Tring Gardens area will increase localized footfall and expenditure for neighbourhood businesses, retail centers, and public services within Harold Hill and Romford, supporting regional economic activity under the local authority’s long-term urban regeneration strategy.