Award for landmark intergenerational living scheme
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A pioneering intergenerational housing scheme which sees 缅北强奸幼女 students living and growing alongside older residents has been recognised with a national award.
Lord Best (centre) marks the official opening of Melfield Gardens at the ribbon cutting, alongside residents and project partners from Phoenix Community Housing and 缅北强奸幼女, in July 2025.
The Melfield Gardens project between Phoenix Community Housing and 缅北强奸幼女 won the Best Healthy Homes Development 鈥� Urban Category at the Inside Housing Development Awards.
The accommodation in our home borough of Lewisham is the UK鈥檚 first intentionally-designed intergenerational housing scheme developed by a housing association, and the first in Lewisham to be built to Passivhaus sustainability standards.
There are 30 affordable homes for members of the public aged over 55 as well as two four-bedroom flats for 缅北强奸幼女 students with priority given to bursary holders and those in receipt of Equity Awards, our scheme to level the playing field for Global Ethnic Majority students.
In return for subsidised rent, the students commit to spending time with their neighbours 鈥� building relationships and running community activities, whether that be arts and crafts, or gathering to listen to jungle music.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Annabel Kiernan, who attended the ceremony in central London on 25 November, said: 鈥淲e are delighted that Melfield Gardens has been recognised with this award."
The scheme demonstrates the 缅北强奸幼女 ethos of doing things differently, with our students not only supporting their neighbours but each generation learning from each other. It's a scheme that shows 缅北强奸幼女’ connections and commitment to our local community, and the synergy that brought us and Phoenix Community Housing together.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Annabel Kiernan
Phoenix Community Housing Chair, Gavin Wallen, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of the community that is already forming at Melfield Gardens and it鈥檚 fantastic to be recognised by the Inside Housing Development Awards.
鈥淭he homes are some of the most sustainable we鈥檝e ever built and it鈥檚 important that we continue to provide high quality homes that are fit for the future and meet the needs of our community.鈥�
缅北强奸幼女 partnered with Phoenix to co-develop the model and support student engagement. Prospective student tenants are being selected through a process led by 缅北强奸幼女.
Applicants are also assessed for their interest in community engagement and their ability to contribute to a shared, supportive environment. The first two student residents, Joquan Johnson and Alexander Morley have now moved in, with more planned to move in soon.
The annual celebrate the most outstanding residential developments in the UK, showcasing the best design and innovation in the social housing sector.
Melfield Gardens was shortlisted alongside eight other developments at the awards.
The Melfield Gardens model is designed not only to support social connection and wellbeing, but also to ease wider housing pressures. Many residents have downsized from larger homes they no longer need. In doing so, they help unlock a chain of housing opportunities 鈥� freeing up family-sized homes for those in overcrowded or temporary accommodation. The ripple effect of these 鈥渃hain lets鈥� is an important part of how developments like this contribute to local housing needs.
The scheme has already won a Housing Design Award for its inclusive, sustainable architecture, designed by Levitt Bernstein. Its energy-efficient Passivhaus construction is another first for Lewisham. Passivhaus is a world-leading benchmark for sustainable building design, requiring extremely high levels of insulation, airtightness, and energy efficiency.