Lion Green Road, a 157-home council housing scheme in Coulsdon, south London, has been awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize 2026. The development was designed by Mary Duggan Architects with RUFF Architects and built for Croydon Council by main contractor CField Construction under a £34m deal.
The scheme comprises five blocks on the site of a former car park, on sloping ground that varies in height by eight metres. The layout uses those changing levels and views to create what the jury described as a "living landscape" for 635 residents, and establishes a new connection between the busy Lion Green Road and an area of green parkland beyond it.
The jury citation highlights a consistent specification across the five blocks, with subtle variation in height and orientation. That approach, it states, delivers housing at scale without uniformity, forming a new kind of garden neighbourhood that balances privacy and generous views with a strong connection to nature.
The project's ability to cut carbon emissions is attributed to efficient construction methods, simple finishes and a more streamlined building process. The announcement gives no quantified figure for the reduction.
Chris Williamson, RIBA President, speaking on behalf of the Stirling Prize jury, said the scheme showed that density can be achieved without compromising the quality of the places created, at a time when more homes are urgently needed. He called it thoughtful, resourceful architecture that proves even the most challenging sites can be transformed into distinctive places for people to call home.