Pictured above: Blueprint accepting the First Time Buyer Award for Phoenix Square at theLandmark Hotel, London  (l-r) Raj Shastri, Peter Connolly, Rachael van Oudheusden, John Long, representative from Awards' sponsor Diversity Careers Show 2010 

The unique design, creative space and sense of community at Phoenix Square has bagged the mixed used development a top award from national homeowner magazine First Time Buyer. 

At a ceremony at The Landmark Hotel in London on April 22nd, hosted by Channel 4's Location, Location, Location presenter Phil Spencer, Blueprint's Peter Connolly and John Long picked up the award for the best "Community Integration Project" thanks to it's innovative mix of uses and spaces including studio, one, two and three bedroom homes, creative workspaces and office studios, all centred around a state of the art independent cinema, immersive digital gallery, café bar and communal courtyard. 

Peter Connolly of Blueprint said: "Phoenix Square is a real draw for those trying to get on the property ladder as it offers individually designed homes which are built with sustainability and community in mind, which means running costs can be kept low and socialising with your new neighbours is made simple."

John Long of Blueprint added: "This is an excellent achievement for Blueprint and Phoenix Square among one of our key audiences. The fact that it is voted for by readers makes it even more special."

First Time Buyer editor, Lynda Clark, commented: "Phoenix Square demonstrated high quality, city centre living in the heart of Leicester's thriving cultural quarter. It is an ideal opportunity for first time buyers as it has a unique mix of people, culture and offers great transport links for people living and working in the East Midlands."

Since opening in November 2009, Phoenix Square has proved a hit with home owners, tenants and businesses alike, being 50% occupied within the first three months. 

Phoenix Square is a unique cultural building which combines contemporary living space, with independent arts cinema, an immersive gallery, screen lounge café bar, state of the art workspaces and office studios to house Leicester's growing number of creative businesses. It is the creation of a partnership project between Blueprint, Phoenix Arts, Leicester City Council in collaboration with De Montfort University and is an example of 21st century sustainable building design, coupled with leading-edge architectural quality.