Two of a social landlord’s sustainable housing schemes have won top national awards.

Phoenix Community Housing’s developments in Lewisham were announced as Housing Design Awards winners, with the judges commending both designs as exemplars of high-quality and community-considerate infill developments.

The projects – 24 new homes already on site in Bellingham and 36 planned homes in Downham – include a mixture of affordable and shared-ownership properties. Pheonix says it carried out extensive consultation with residents for both developments to shape the final plans through a ‘building together’ approach.

Both schemes are designed to meet the internationally recognised ‘Passivhaus’ standard which aims to address issues including fuel poverty and climate change. Passivhaus homes have very high levels of insulation which means residents will notice benefits such as lower energy bills and comfortable living environments all year round.

Construction is underway at the Farmstead Road site and the homes are expected to complete in February 2025. The development at Farmstead Road is also shortlisted for The New London Architecture Awards which recognise developments of different scales across London and focus on sustainable, well-designed, and considered projects. Winners will be announced in November 2023.

The new homes are part of Phoenix’s plans to build 186 new homes by 2025, including the construction of its first intergenerational scheme at Melfield Gardens which won the GLA award at the 2021 Housing Design Awards. Working in partnership with Goldsmiths, University of London, the scheme will provide 30 affordable homes for people over 55, alongside two four-bedroom flats for students. Phoenix

Denise Fowler, Pheonix’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the quality of these homes and it’s fantastic to have been recognised by the Housing Design Awards. I look forward to seeing the plans come to life and to witness the impact the homes will have on our community. The plans will not only provide much-needed affordable housing but also the benefits of sustainable design, resulting in lower energy bills and helping our residents to live in comfort during these challenging times.”

The Housing Design Awards are represented by all five major professional housing institutions (RICS, RIBA, RTPL, Landscape Institute and Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists), and focus on schemes that are high quality and placemaking.