The shortlist for the Neave Brown Award for Housing 2026 has been revealed by RIBA.
From a residential, landscape-led scheme on a challenging site in Croydon (Lion Green Road), to a 100% social housing development in Glasgow (St Andrew's Drive Phases 2 & 3), this year's projects demonstrate how affordable and social housing can combine architectural excellence and sustainable interventions to create lasting value for communities.
The four shortlisted projects are:
- 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.
Jury Chair Helen Lee, Associate Director at Witherford Watson Mann architects said: “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.
“The jury deliberated for some time over a very strong pool of eligible projects but were unanimous in championing the shortlisted projects.
“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.”
Chris Williamson, RIBA President, said: "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 Neave Brown Award for Housing 2026 jury comprised: Helen Lee, Associate Director, Witherford Watson Mann architects (Jury Chair), Paul Monaghan, Allford, Hall, Monaghan, Morris, Housing Expert, RIBA Awards Group member, and Tabitha Oakley-Brown, Granddaughter of Neave Brown (Family Representative).
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.
