Goldsmith Street

Winner of the 2019 RIBA Stirling prize, these eco-friendly homes are one of the first new council housing projects in a generation.

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Goldsmith Street in Norwich is made up of 105 council homes let out for social rent. Norwich City Council’s original plans to sell the site to a local housing provider was scuppered by the 2008 financial crisis, so in 2012 the city decided to develop the site itself. Designed by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley, the project won the prestigious 2019 RIBA Stirling prize for the best building in the UK.

The homes have been designed to strict Passivhaus standards, meaning that the houses are as airtight as possible and use heat from the sun, human occupants, household appliances and extract air to warm the home. The building does not lose much heat, meaning that the homes need hardly any heating at all. Energy costs are expected to be around 70% cheaper on average. Parking spaces are set around the perimeter of the areas so the streets are primarily oriented around pedestrians.

Gail Harris, Norwich City Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for social housing, told the Guardian: ​“It’s already won lots of awards, which is lovely, and other councils are really envious, but that’s not the point. It’s about people having good quality homes and low fuel bills. And we plan to build a lot more.”

Tags Socal/community housing Municipal ownership Green transition