THE SITE manager overseeing a major new housing development in Lydney has received one of the housebuilding industry's highest honours after being recognised for delivering high-quality homes.

David Buckingham, who manages Bellway's Forest Walk development, has been named a winner of a National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Quality Award.

The award marks the first Quality Award of David's career after several near misses during the past decade as a site manager.

The 38-year-old, who lives in Caldicot near Chepstow, joined Bellway in September 2024 and has overseen the 200-home Forest Walk development from the very start of construction.

Speaking after receiving the award, David said he was "ecstatic" to finally achieve the recognition after chasing it for several years.

He said: "It's a super proud moment and has been a long time coming. It's always handy to start a site from day one so you can set the standard and let the trades know what's expected of them.

"I ask them to treat each home as if it were their own. We are creating someone's home, something they are going to be spending a lot of money on, and you can't cut corners. You have to show the greatest respect for every aspect of the build."

Forest Walk, located on the outskirts of Lydney, will provide 200 new homes and incorporates locally inspired stonework throughout the development to reflect the character of the Forest of Dean.

David said the distinctive stonework was introduced as part of the planning consent agreed with Forest of Dean District Council and praised the skilled contractors responsible for delivering the finish.

He also highlighted the teamwork behind the award-winning site, saying everyone had embraced the same high standards while apprentices had played an important role in the project's success.

Having entered the construction industry as a carpenter at the age of 21, David progressed through the ranks before becoming a site manager and said he enjoys the variety and problem-solving the role brings.

He added that Bellway's internal Pathway resource had also helped him prepare for the awards by allowing him to study previous winners and best practice guidance.

The NHBC Pride in the Job Awards are now in their 45th year and are regarded as one of the industry's most prestigious accolades. This year, just 449 site managers were selected from more than 7,500 inspected across the UK.

Judges assess every aspect of site management, including attention to detail, leadership, technical expertise, health and safety, consistency and the day-to-day running of developments.

David will now progress to the next stage of the competition, where he will be considered for a Seal of Excellence and Regional Award later this year.

James Morgan, Senior Construction Manager for Bellway, congratulated David on the achievement, praising his dedication to quality and the culture he has helped create at Forest Walk.

He said David had inspired his team to build homes they could be proud of and expressed confidence that his commitment to excellence could lead to further success in the next round of judging.