The 33rd annual Evening Standard New Homes Awards took place in a glittering ceremony at the Dorchester on Park Lane.
Here, the very best in the industry were awarded for their staggering work this year in building the best houses, flats and developments in London and the south-east.
It was a hefty challenge for our judges to decided on the eventual winners and highly commended entrants - huge thanks to Charles Bettes, Managing Director of GPAD, Andrew Whiting, Founder and Principal of Hut Architecture, Debbie Whitfield, Director of Impact at Fabrix and Ben Lampert, Development Director of Artform Group - but the final set of winners were particularly strong this year.
And all the winners were also competing for Evening Standard Grand Prix Award, for the ‘best in show’ - read on to find out who won the coveted statue of Eros, the Standard logo.
The event was introduced by comedian Hugh Dennis, in hilarious form, before the Standard’s CEO Paul Kanareck handed out the the awards to the triumphant victors.
But, as they say, without further ado, here are the winners...
BEST FIRST-TIME BUYER HOME
Highly Commended: BERKELEY
For Waterlilly Court, Kidbrooke Village, Greenwich, SE3
Winner: POCKET LIVING
For Forest Road, E17. This winning entry was praised by the judges for its generous shared spaces, its well-planned outside space, and its high standard of architecture.
BEST FLAT – Under 100 residences
Highly Commended: WESTBOURNE HOMES
For Beechwood Manor, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Winner: FOLKESTONE HARBOUR & SEAFRONT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
For Shoreline, Folkestone, Kent. The winning entry has a fantastic location right by the beach in a town which is enjoying a real regeneration renaissance.
BEST FLAT – Over 100 residences
Highly Commended: THE CAMDEN COLLECTION
For Eeko, Camden, NW1
Winner: LONDON SQUARE
For Apartment 201, Nine Elms, SW11. A development at the height of one of central London’s most exciting regeneration zones, with fantastic views along the River Thames. These apartments are contemporary and cool, with lots of luxurious touches.
BEST HOUSE – Under 100
Winner: NEIL DUSHEIKO ARCHITECTS
House of the Elements, Deptford, SE15. The BEST HOUSE for the smaller developer began life as a traditional Victorian terrace, which has been completely, and sustainably, reinvented as a modern home with a spectacular garden. Our judges loved this “exquisite” remodelling of a period terrace behind an unassuming façade, considering it nothing short of magical.
BEST HOUSE – Over 100
Winner: BELLWAY SOUTH LONDON
The Reedmaker at Fallow Wood View, Burgess Hill, West Sussex. For the larger developer, the winner is a light family home, with open plan living space, in a lovely countryside location. It is the first time a well-known, large-scale housebuilder, has built timber framed houses, and provides a possible template for modern, mass-market, sustainable homes. Our judges loved the way the contemporary design still gave a nod to the local Sussex vernacular with its choice of different façade materials.
BEST LUXURY HOME
Highly Commended: REGAL
For The Haydon, Aldgate, EC3
Winner: EARLSWOOD HOMES
For Selbourne, Tadworth, Surrey. A highly detailed modern house which offers its lucky owners a bespoke and truly luxurious lifestyle. The attention to detail here impressed our judges, from Italian granite for the façade hand-selected at source, to the cleverly light-filled subterranean spa complex.
BEST CONVERSION
Highly Commended: CITY & COUNTRY
For The Bakery, The Old Dormitory and Matrons House
Winner: BERKELEY
The Horlicks Factory at Horlicks Quarter, Slough, Berkshire. A conversion of a historic factory building. Our judges loved the considered design of this development, from the refurbished original factory sign, to the high specification contemporary interiors.
BEST COMMUTER HOME
Highly Commended: MILLBANK HOMES
For Birch Grove, Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire
Winner 1: MACAR HOMES
For 9 Polo Mews, The Gallop, South Croydon, Surrey. For this category we had two winners. Our first winner is a modern take on the classic London mews, nine family homes close to shops and restaurants, open space, top-rated schools, and only a mile from the station. Our judges said: “The homes sit sensitively in their location, making a positive contribution to the suburban streetscape, with generously-sized bedrooms and efficiently designed living spaces”.
Winner 2: THE HILL GROUP
The Malvern at Millside Grange, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Our second winner impressed our judges with its thoughtful farmstead development, where homes are surrounded by green space, play areas, and footpaths, creating an ideal sanctuary for commuters.
BEST SMALL DEVELOPMENT
Highly Commended: VIRTUE PROPERTY GROUP
For Orchard Farm, Outwood, Surrey
Winner: MILLBANK HOMES
For Birch Grove, Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire. This winner caught our judges’ eyes because of the way each thoughtfully designed home has views over ancient woodland, which means residents are immersed in nature. The internal courtyards continue the inside/outside theme, and mean these properties feel light and airy.
BEST LARGE DEVELOPMENT
Highly Commended: HOLLYBROOK
For Millbrook Studios, Harlow, Essex
Winner 1: RELATED ARGENT
For Author, King’s Cross, N1. Two winners again. The first winner is a build to rent development in one of the most spectacular regeneration schemes London has seen in years. Our judges were impressed by the way the different buildings were ranged around a landscaped courtyard, and the high quality of the internal design.
Winner 2: BELL PHILLIPS
For Cosway Street, Camden, NW1. The second winner is a conservation area development of apartments and houses, arranged around landscaped gardens. The homes were inspired by the Victorian and Georgian townhouses in the surrounding streets, but with a modern twist. The fluted façade went down well with our judges, who loved how it complimented the historic streetscape.
BEST LATER LIVING HOME
Winner: WESTBOURNE HOMES
For Beechwood Manor, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. A contemporary country manor divided into five individual apartments, in a wonderful location close to a beautiful market town. The properties all have private gardens, so downsizers don’t have to compromise on outside space, and they have every possible mod con
BEST SHARED OWNERSHIP HOME
Highly Commended: NHG HOMES
For Castle & Victoria, Westminster, SW1
Highly Commended: LATIMER BYCLARION HOUSING GROUP
For Kiln Grange, Stone Cross, East Sussex
Winner: GATEWAY HOUSING
For Apartment 7, Regent Place, Bow, E3. A stylish East London development with elegant architecture, communal gardens, and turnkey starter flats. The proof is in the pudding – all of these homes have been snapped up.
BEST REGENERATION PROJECT
Highly Commended: BALLYMORE
For The Brentford Project, TW8
Highly Commended: WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL
For Harrow Road, W2
Winner: VISTRY GROUP and L&Q
For Beam Park, Rainham, RM13. Our winning entry has transformed a brownfield site into a great place to live, with plentiful green space, and our judges commented on liveable and well thought out homes.
BEST LOW CARBON HOME
Winner 1: THE CAMDEN COLLECTION
For Eeko, Camden, NW1. The first joint winner in this category is a Passivhaus-standard development of apartments designed to maximise quality of life while minimising environmental impact and household bills.
Winner 2: GREENCORE HOMES
For The Bourne, Banbury, Oxfordshire. Our second winner is an impressive carbon negative development which should actually produce more energy than it uses, thanks to solar panels feeding a development-wide power grid.
And....the GRAND PRIX AWARD WINNER:
GATEWAY HOUSING FOR REGENT PLACE
Gateway were awarded the best scheme of 2024 out of all our entries in all categories.
Over the years developments large and small have walked away with our top prize. This year’s winner has created a range of smart, affordable homes for first time buyers priced off the housing ladder in an up and coming part of East London.
Our judges described this entry as “a highly considered low-carbon development that doesn’t just provide a peaceful sanctuary within for its residents, but also presents a series of interesting and welcoming façades to the surrounding streets”.
They also loved the attention to design detail, the way the modern buildings fit so well within a historic neighbourhood, and the sense of community and pride of those living here.
And the quality of the apartments prove that affordable homes don’t need to be a compromise.
Congratulations to Gateway Housing!
And that’s it!
Thank you to the the judges, guests, and everyone who entered this year’s awards. And particularly thanks to Avril Blanchot for organising the event - truly you went above and beyond this year, Avril, so thank you!
Hope to see you again next year...