RIBA has announced the shortlist for the Neave Brown Award for Housing 2026, showcasing some of the UK’s best new housing developments
From a residential, landscape-led scheme on a challenging site in Croydon to a 100% social housing development in Glasgow, this year’s candidates for the Neave Brown Award demonstrate how affordable and social housing can combine architectural excellence and sustainable interventions to create lasting value for communities.
Chris Williamson, RIBA president, stated: “This year’s shortlisted projects demonstrate how high-quality affordable homes can meet both community needs and environmental ambitions.
“They also demonstrate the skill and care that architects bring to the prime minister’s aim of increasing the supply of great affordable housing.
“From urban regeneration and landscape-led design to low-carbon living and community-focused development, each scheme shows the positive impact good design can have on everyday life.”
The four shortlisted projects
Canada Water Plot K1, by Morris+Company with White Ink
79 affordable homes in South-East London’s Canada Water district bordering the Russia Dock Woodland and Stave Hill Ecological Park.
Lion Green Road, by Mary Duggan Architects (design) with RUFF Architects (delivery)
157 new dwellings across five sculpted pavilions, set within topographically varied parkland in the London Borough of Croydon.
Rowan Court, by Satish Jassal Architects
A disused 1970s estate transformed into 46 new low-carbon social rent homes in Seven Sisters, North London.
St Andrew’s Drive Phases 2 & 3, by jmarchitects
120 new homes in Pollokshields, Glasgow, combining stacked maisonettes, apartments and terraced housing around shared green space.
The Neave Brown Award for Housing celebrates affordable housing across the UK
Jury chair Helen Lee, associate director at Witherford Watson Mann Architects, explained: “This year’s shortlist for the Neave Brown Award for Housing celebrates four exceptionally high-quality affordable housing projects built in the UK recently; each reflecting Neave Brown’s belief in community-focused and contextually responsive architecture.
“From pavilions in a free-flowing park land in Coulsdon, to low carbon 100% affordable housing in Canada Water, new homes in Haringey which successfully tackle a difficult edge site, and a high-quality landscape led scheme in Glasgow; this year’s shortlisted projects each respond skilfully to the unique urban challenges of their sites, creating beautiful and enduring places to live, supporting communities to grow and evolve.”
The Neave Brown Award for Housing 2026 shortlist is selected from winners of the RIBA UK Awards 2026.
The winner will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Thursday 15 October 2026 at Old Billingsgate in London.
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