Two South London housing developments – including Bermondsey’s Appleby Blue Almshouse – have been recognised for their pioneering approaches to affordable housing and shortlisted for a prestigious national architecture award, writes Emily Driver…
Bermondsey’s Appleby Blue Almshouse, which reimagines the traditional almshouse model to meet 21st-century needs, is among the four projects shortlisted by the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) for the Neave Brown Award for Housing 2025 – a prestigious award celebrating the UK’s best new affordable housing. Lewisham’s Citizens House is also amongst the candidates.
Designed by Witherford Watson Mann Architects for United St Saviour’s Charity, Appleby Blue Almshouse had previously been recognised by the RIBA London Award and RIBA National Award 2025 for its innovative approach to conceiving later-life housing.
The entire build, which was compared to a Scandinavian spa by The Guardian, is made of oak and designed around a stunning courtyard with water features and a roof garden terrace.
Rohan Lopez was one of the residents who moved there from Blackfriars in August 2023, the 64-year-old artist said it is a model that should be ‘rolled out everywhere.’
“It’s like living in a hotel,” he told the News when we visited last year. “When they showed me my room I couldn’t believe it was just for me. I thought I’d have to share with someone.”
Rohan said this is especially meaningful to him because he knows what it’s like to be homeless: “I’m grateful for whatever I am given. But this is a really beautiful high-spec building. I can be very social but at the same time, I need a lot of space. This place gives me that.”
He added: “It’s a model that should be rolled out everywhere regardless of your age. If anything goes wrong they get it sorted, unlike certain councils.”
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Robert McLeary, 69, was one of the first to move in with his wife Sheree and said they are very happy. “Quality of life is excellent. It’s like you come back to your apartment and it just feels like you’re on holiday.”
The project transformed the site of a disused nursing home into 59 high-quality apartments with shared spaces that aim to reduce social isolation.
The development was delivered through a partnership between Southwark Council, private developer JTRE London, and United Saviour’s Charity (UStSC), which continues to operate the almshouse with rents capped at social housing levels.
The jury has praised the design’s sensitivity and practical response to the realities of ageing, stating: “The architects were aware that one of the biggest challenges of growing older is increased isolation. The design attempts to remedy this by creating spaces that encourage chance meetings, places to chat with friends or sit together with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.”
Also shortlisted is Citizens House, an 11-home affordable development in Lewisham by Archio. The project, born from a grassroots campaign for community land trust (CLT) homes on surplus council land, was co-designed with residents. The homes are priced at 65% of local market rate, with shared walkways and balconies designed to encourage interaction among residents and outdoor play for children.
Appleby Blue Almshouse and Citizens House have been selected by the jury for affirming the values of the award’s namesake, Neave Brown, who believed that housing should be “civic, generous, and transformative.”
The winner will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Thursday 16 October at The Roundhouse in London.
