Sutton's award-winning council housing

We were delighted to learn that our new-build council housing in Wallington has won an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects. 

Ludlow Lodge was announced as a winner of the RIBA London Award 2021 with a commentary stating:

“The project is a welcome addition to the local area, with architectural richness in simple design. This is carried through the building at every scale, from its master planning to the smallest details.

"By raising the bar on expectations for social housing, Ludlow Lodge will have an enduring appeal both to the residents and in the community. A modesty in scale and choice of materials is coupled with contemporary detailing to create something both original and rigorous. This project speaks loud and clear of what good housing for all should look like.”

The new council housing was managed and delivered by the council, with a Bell Phillips Architects design, based on a brief of tenure-blind, quality housing that reflected its setting in a Conservation Area. A medium sized construction firm, Kind & Co. was engaged to build this and two other new build council housing developments in the borough.

This was the council’s first new council housing for 25 years, now possible due to changes in Government funding rules for social housing, and it was managed in-house by council officers. It is thanks to those officers’ commitment to deliver good quality housing for council tenants, down to key details to make the properties liveable, that we are honoured with this award.

RIBA also praises the ambition set for the building to meet high environmental targets alongside the quality design.

Sutton Council has now built 93 new council homes, and is currently on target to deliver another 80 in the next few years.

Whilst it is lovely to receive awards recognizing the work the council has done, the reason for our high standards was to ensure the people living in these properties benefit from high quality accommodation, and feel proud to live there. We know that good housing improves lives, so we will push to improve the quality of our existing council housing, and build more where we can.

As a winner of the regional RIBA Award, Ludlow Lodge will automatically be entered into the National Awards.

Another new-build council housing project by the council, Richmond Green, was shortlisted for the Inside Housing Best Development Award in 2019.

Councillor Jayne McCoy