“Around the flats special measures were taken to increase privacy for ground floor residents and landscaped communal gardens now make better use of open spaces and help to reduce anti-social and criminal behaviour.

“Sanctuary has managed to successfully address all the major issues associated with transforming tired, run down properties and it is significant that the residents have a renewed sense of pride in their surroundings.”

“There are still millions of non-decent homes in the UK,” said Mr Graham Ponting, Director of the National Home Improvement Council. “If the government is to meet its 2010 improvement target then we are going to need thousands of schemes, similar to Sanctuary’s in Hackney, to be completed in the next five years.

“The Hackney project is a prime example of what could be achieved elsewhere in the UK.”

Bill Gallagher, who is also a member of Sanctuary’s national residents’ forum said: "I’m absolutely delighted that Sanctuary’s work at Hackney has been recognised by the housing sector. Sanctuary’s dedicated project team worked very closely with residents’ committees to ensure that their needs and vision for the estate were delivered and this award acknowledges their achievements.”