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Innovation and creativity rewarded at the Housing Design Awards 2008

Published 4 July 2008

Upside down houses in Salford and light weight homes in Milton Keynes are just two of the winning designs recognised for providing high quality homes that will last, at this year's Housing Design Awards. 

Now in its Diamond Jubilee, the awards demonstrate how strong designs can successfully reinvigorate and regenerate neighbourhoods and provide high quality homes to the highest environmental standards.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said:

"These awards show the incredible results that can be achieved when strong partnerships are formed between local communities, planners, architects and developers. 

"The winners are testament to the creativity in the industry and demonstrate the possibilities for designing sustainable, low carbon housing that will last the test of time." 

This year's winner, Chimney Pot Park in Salford, shows how outstanding design was used to refurbish hundreds of terraced homes using the innovative concept of moving the living accommodation to the top floor of the houses. The scheme is completely regenerating this part of Salford.

Communities and Local Government are lead sponsors of the awards in partnership with the National House Building Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and CABE.

Judging was carried out by a committee of representatives from both the sponsors and supporters.  Judges viewed designs in relation to their surroundings, constraints of site, layout and landscaping, planning of roads and pathways, attention to safety, security and accessibility, design of garages and car parking, sustainability, workmanship, and external appearance and internal planning.

  • Overall Winner - Chimney Pot Park, Langworthy, Salford

Four hundred two-up two-downs in the Salford Housing Market Renewal area were transformed when Urban Splash, began refurbishing 347 properties in a new version of back-to-back blocks. The brickwork facade has been retained, the layout switched so bedrooms are on the ground floor and living accommodation on the first floor, and the back alley transformed into first floor terraced gardens with parking beneath.

The architects Shed KM designed a scheme that will contain a mix of open market housing and homes available through English Partnership's First Time Buyers Initiative.  Phase one is already occupied.

The 1960's opening credits of the ITV show Coronation Street were filmed in these streets. 

  • Large Housebuilder Winner - Oxley Woods, Milton Keynes

This scheme of 78 homes brings together the country's largest housebuilder, Taylor Wimpey, and leading architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the firm of leading international architect Richard Rogers. 

The development contains 30 per cent affordable housing, and is being constructed using light weight closed timber-frame panels that are built on site in the back of an articulated lorry. The development has a strong focus on waste and cost reduction. 

Energy efficiency is helped with an 'ecohat'; a cowl on the roof with a solar heating panel and recovery system that recycles heat out of stale air. The scheme is also being built to Lifetime Homes and Secured By Design standards.

  • Housing Corporation Winner - Rostron Brow, Stockport

This scheme of eight shared ownership homes by Northern Counties Housing Association has rescued a key site in the heart of Stockport's Hillgate conservation area.  Architects TADW designed a development that converted a tobacco warehouse into four homes, with a new-build block sat over a string of retail units housing another four homes.

  • Winner - Adelaide Wharf, Hackney, London

A large scheme of 147 flats - including social rent and key worker shared ownership - in a 'tenure blind' scheme developed by English Partnerships with Tower Homes.  Alford Hall Monaghan Morris designed homes that feature large rooms and 10sq m balconies, demonstrating that high density apartments can provide family homes. The flats were built by developer First Base to Lifetime Homes standards using modular construction.

  • Winner - Bourbon Lane, Shepherds Bush, London

This Registered Social Landlord development designed by Cartwright Pickard provides 78 mixed tenure homes that provide secure family homes, all with private outside space. Developers Octavia Housing and Care have created a scheme that has a combined heat and power source financed from savings arising from a fast module construction system. 

Project Award Winners

  • Buckingham Riverside, Buckingham
  • Gosport Railway Station, Gosport
  • Tibby's Triangle, Southwold
  • Tribeca Family Housing, Liverpool
  • 452 Hackney Road, London
  • Tribeca Plot 1, Liverpool
  • Greenwich Peninsula, London
  • Lobb Lane Mill, Manchester

Must See

  • The West Parkside, Park Central, Birmingham
  • Barking Central 1, London

Historic Awards

  • 1954, Highworth Cottages, Kingsclere, Hampshire - an early form of Design for Manufacture
  • 1958-1963, Golden Lane, City of London - the complete city neighbourhood
  • 1968, St Bernards, Croydon - higher density housing designed for market sale that affords the same privacy as semi or detached homes
  • 1977, Lyde End, Bledow, Buckingham - Modern homes that are in tune with the landscape and peoples domestic lives
  • 1987, Spinney Gardens, Crystal Palace - first steps towards low energy and environmental sustainability
  • 1997, Smithfield Buildings, Manchester - urban regeneration using a smart building conversion in a low value area to reinvigorate local land values

Notes to Editors


1. Lifetime Homes standards ensure more inclusive and flexible housing to meet future demand in an aging society. Homes are built with future-proofing features, such as downstairs toilet and electrical sockets at convenient heights, and enable simpler, cheaper adaptations to be made as people's circumstances change.

2. Secure by Design standards were devised by the Association of Chief Police Officers to help prevent crime through better design of buildings, neighbourhoods and the public realm.

3. Design for Manufacture (launched in April 2005) was a Government sponsored competition to encourage the construction industry to use modern methods of construction to deliver housing more quickly, cost effectively and to higher standards. 

4. The Housing Design Awards 2008 were held at Banqueting Hall, Whitehall, London on Thursday, 4 July 2008.

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