Lion Green Road, a 157-home council housing scheme in Coulsdon, south London, has been awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize 2026. The development was designed by Mary Duggan Architects with RUFF Architects and built for Croydon Council by main contractor CField Construction.
The project occupies the site of a former car park and is made up of five blocks. CField Construction delivered the homes under a £34m contract. The site is sloping, with levels changing by eight metres, and the design had to respond to that constraint. That change in level is a notable constraint for a residential development of this size. The completed development creates a new link between the busy Lion Green Road and a distinct area of green parkland beyond.
The layout uses the site’s changing levels and views to create what the jury described as a “living landscape” for 635 residents. A consistent specification is combined with subtle differences in the height and orientation of the blocks. The aim is to provide housing at scale while avoiding a uniform appearance, according to the jury’s assessment. This approach also seeks to balance privacy and views with access to nature.
Efficient construction methods, simple finishes and a more streamlined building process were used to reduce carbon emissions. The scheme also had to make the most of a constrained, sloping urban site while providing homes for hundreds of residents. The project therefore combines a difficult site response with measures intended to lower the carbon emissions of construction.
Chris Williamson, RIBA President, speaking on behalf of the Stirling Prize jury, said the project showed that density can be achieved without compromising the quality of the places created. He said the consistent specification and subtle variation in height and orientation offered housing at scale without uniformity. He described the result as a new kind of garden neighbourhood that balances privacy and generous views with a strong connection to nature. He added that the scheme demonstrates how even the most challenging sites can be transformed into distinctive places for people to call home.
The jury’s comments focused on how the project handles density, privacy, views and nature rather than on a single architectural feature. The jury’s citation praised the scheme as thoughtful and resourceful architecture. The award recognises a completed local-authority housing development rather than a proposal. It highlights the combined roles of architectural design, contractor delivery and landscape response in adding homes to a constrained site. It also draws attention to the role of local-authority housebuilding on a constrained urban site.