Raising the standard of housing design

A record 36 housing schemes achieved a Building for Life Standard in 2009.

They include two with the highest scores ever: Lime Tree Square in Street, Somerset, and Cross Street South in Wolverhampton. This kind of housing sets a benchmark for the future.

The standard is awarded to schemes that score 14/20 or more with the Building for Life criteria – the national standard for well designed homes and neighbourhoods.

Silver standards

Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside

Sheltered accommodation which brightens up an area still hungry for regeneration. The colourful chimneys are actually sun tunnels, piping in extra daylight.

Bateman Mews, Stockwell, south London

Just five homes but an impressive ambition to avoid building a bog standard cul-de-sac.

Canklow Woods Housing Development, Canklow, Rotherham

Seventy one homes which provide much more space than those they replace, and a better mix of housing to meet local needs.

Church Street, Newham, east London

Despite a very constrained site, these are good sized homes and their design enlivens the street.

City Quarter, Whitechapel, east London

A sweet oasis tucked inside a substantial scheme which provides a good mix of 300 affordable and private homes.

Curwen Apartments, Stratford, east London

By retaining the existing trees, this development already feels mature.

East End Community Village, Cattedown, Plymouth

A real sense of place has been achieved by this scheme. It signals the kind of transformation which can be achieved in any run-down neighbourhood.

Geoff Marsh Court, Camden, north London

This is a compact scheme, with 22 homes fitted into a small infill site, made distinctive through excellent detailing

Grand Union Place, Stepney, east London

Another east London development: this one is substantial and provides great public space, and gives locals a welcome new link through to a canal towpath.

Grange Road, Petersfield, Hampshire

Grange Road is in the middle of a redevelopment area, so it was a challenge to create distinctive character - but this scheme has succeeded.

Granville Homes, Brent, north London

Fantastic cladding. It had to be especially good to get through in a conservation area. This scheme is a great start to regeneration in Kilburn.

Grover Close, Hemel Hempstead, Herts

Fifty six homes in a high density development which use thermo wood cladding. All the homes have excellent space standards.

Hanbury Quarter, Chelmsford, Essex

A really nice link has been made through to the local park, and the scheme has a 100% cycle provision.

Hirst Gardens, Burnley Woods, Burnley, Lancashire

Locals really like the distinctive look of this sheltered accommodation.

Imperial Wharf, Chelsea, London

A handsome brownfield development providing 1,800 homes. Half of the scheme is affordable housing.

Ledbury Cottage Hospital, Ledbury, Herefordshire

A lovely renovation of the old cottage hospital, one of the landmarks on the High Street in Ledbury.

Norfolk Park Green Homes, Sheffield

The design of this scheme is particularly important because it is setting the bar for a much larger area of regeneration. The homes have been designed to guarantee lower than average fuel bills.

Pepys, Deptford, south east London

The latest phase in the welcome replacement of a very grim 1960’s estate by the River Thames. The building line was governed by historic building, and the residents wanted to retain all the existing green space.

River’s Gate, Newcastle

A design which has created a place with distinct character, with views from each house down to Newcastle football stadium.

St Pauls Place, St Albans

A small and very carefully thought through scheme of just eight homes for single elderly people.

Stone Rise, Dulcie Close, Dartford

Contaminated land made this a challenging site, but the £60K house type has resulted in very high performance standards.

Tarling Regeneration, Shadwell, east London

Two hundred new homes in east London - a successful example of a high-density, inner-city regeneration scheme.

Trinity Watch, St Ives, Cornwall

The quality of the materials used and the quality of its construction have made Trinity Watch a showcase for how a small development can add to the character of an area.

Yew Tree Lodge, Hillingdon, north London

A development for 12 residents with special needs, with lovely detailing. It could set a new standard for this kind of scheme: it makes a refreshing and positive change.

Gold standards

Admiralty Quarter, Portsmouth

Once a car park, this site now provides over 500 homes which enjoy some really lovely places to sit or play.

Angel Waterside, Islington, London

An attractive scheme which has created desirable public space leading right through onto the canalside.

Banks Yard, Hounslow, west London

A small development which has thought hard about its open space. This has been designed for children to enjoy.

Chimney Pot Park, Langworthy, Salford

Chimney Pot Park turned the traditional terraced street upside down and gave it a new lease of life. This bright linear garden is at first floor level, accessed from the main living rooms.

Cross Street South, Wolverhampton

A small scheme of 30 homes which has been designed with such huge ambition, it has succeeded in transforming the quality of its location in Wolverhampton.

East Central Rochdale HMR, Rochdale, Greater Manchester

These 25 modern courtyard houses have filled a real gap, in providing flexible accommodation for extended families.

Highbury Square, Islington, London

A large development of over 700 homes, showing a really impressive re-use of existing buildings and beautifully designed public space.

Hornsey Road Baths, Islington, London

The pool closed in 1991, leaving a large derelict site. Now the original 24m high chimney rises through a glazed atrium that links two of the new housing blocks. The development includes new squares and a Sure Start Centre.

Lime Tree Square, Street, Somerset

A hugely impressive 138 home scheme in the market town of Street. Fantastic use of detail to create a rural feel with a modern twist.

Printworks, Forest Hill, south London

A sensitive infill scheme which packs a punch through its street frontage. Interesting how one clever intervention can improve the feel of an entire neighbourhood.

Queensbridge Quarter, Hackney, north east London

Attractive high density scheme with a layout which maximises use of solar panels. Sun-spaces on the south facades provide extensions to living rooms.

Stadthaus, Hackney, north east London

Finally, an extraordinary pioneer. This nine storey building is entirely made of wood, which reputedly makes it the tallest timber residential building in the world.