Full Breakdown
Lion Green Road Wins 2026 RIBA Stirling Prize, Showcasing Council-Led High-Density Housing
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Award Announcement
On October 15, the Royal Institute of British Architects presented its 2026 Stirling Prize at Old Billingsgate, London. The prize went to Lion Green Road, a council-commissioned housing scheme in Coulsdon, South London, designed by Mary Duggan Architects with RUFF Architects. It is the fourth housing project to receive the award in the prize’s 30-year history.
Background & Context
Lion Green Road stems from Croydon Council’s former arms-length development company, Brick by Brick, set up in 2015 to deliver affordable homes on council-owned sites. Although the company collapsed in 2020, it had already built 751 homes, more than half affordable. The council’s earlier success, Goldsmith Street in Norwich (Stirling Prize 2019), set a precedent for high-quality public housing. The award arrives as the UK government plans to inject £39 bn into the housing sector, underscoring the relevance of council-led projects.
Design and Site Strategy
The development replaces a former car park on a sloping site with an eight-metre elevation change. Five prismatic, 13-sided blocks form a “pinwheel” around central lift cores. Each block shares a star-shaped specification but is rotated to optimise views, minimise overlooking, and respond to the topography. Mature trees and a bluebell woodland were retained, and a public pathway links Lion Green Road to a fragment of the Surrey Iron Railway. Amenities include a sensory garden, allotments and play areas. Dual-aspect flats benefit from daylight, cross-ventilation and private balconies positioned to avoid direct sightlines into neighbouring homes.
Data & Statistics
- 157 dwellings across five blocks (original brief called for 80 homes).
- 635 residents accommodated.
- Construction cost £2,500 per sq m, the lowest among the Stirling shortlist.
- Half of the units are private rentals; the other half are council-rented at local housing-allowance rates.
- Planning application (2017) received 18 letters of support and 257 objections, mainly about parking.
Official Statements & Responses
RIBA President Chris Williamson said the project proves density can be achieved without sacrificing quality. Mary Duggan, director of Mary Duggan Architects, highlighted the scheme’s blend of architectural ambition and social value. Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray praised it as architecture that improves everyday life through creativity and public need.
Why It Matters
The award spotlights a council-led model that combines high-density housing with high-quality design, offering a template for public-sector developments amid national housing shortages. By treating the site’s topography as an asset, the scheme shows affordable housing can be environmentally sensitive and aesthetically distinct. Recognition may encourage other authorities to adopt landscape-first approaches as central housing funding expands.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on community opposition: one report notes 257 objections, another highlights 18 letters of support without quantifying overall sentiment. The original brief targeted 80 homes, yet the final count reached 157, indicating a significant scope expansion not fully explained in available documentation.