Appleby Blue becomes first social housing scheme to win RIBA Stirling Prize in awards history
Appleby Blue, the purpose-built almshouse delivered by JTRE London in partnership with United St Saviour’s Charity has become the first social housing-led development to win the RIBA Stirling Prize, the UK’s highest architectural honour.
Appleby Blue saw off stiff competition from Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, to be awarded the prize.
The scheme for residents aged over 65 was praised by the jury for being “radical and significant” and setting “an ambitious new standard for social housing among older people”. Designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects Witherford Watson Mann, the project, designed to combat loneliness, includes generous communal areas, a roof garden and spaces that integrate with external communities, offering a modern answer to the traditional almshouse.
Appleby Blue was funded through a section 106 agreement as part of JTRE London’s Triptych Bankside development, which combines homes, workspace and ground floor independent retailers and Art Academy London.
The Stirling Prize win adds to Appleby Blue’s growing list of accolades, including the Housing Architecture Award at the Dezeen Awards 2024, and the Overall Grand Prix award at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards.
JTRE London is to deliver a further 64 new almshouses in Southwark by 2030 in partnership with Southwark Charities, as part of its development at 220 Blackfriars. The development will once again reimagine traditional almshouse living, delivering high quality, 100% affordable homes for older residents, integrated with extensive communal spaces and green areas, supporting social wellbeing and community cohesion in one of London’s most desirable neighbourhoods.
By completion of 220 Blackfriars, JTRE London will have been responsible for the delivery of over half of Southwark’s almshouse provision, directly addressing the borough’s urgent housing needs.
Nigel Fleming, Managing Director of JTRE London, says: “Appleby Blue’s Stirling Prize win is more than a design accolade, it’s a turning point for how we think about housing in London. It demonstrates the impact developers can achieve when working hand-in-hand with the public and charity sectors to create homes that deliver genuine social value. And, the timing could not be more significant. At a moment when London faces a housing crisis and viability challenges are stalling the delivery of essential affordable homes, this achievement is testament to what can be accomplished through partnership, determination, a clear, socially driven vision and architectural ambition.”
