Royal Greenwich’s Kidbrooke Park Road, the UK’s largest council housing project, has been completed, setting a new benchmark for well-designed, large-scale social housing.
Designed by HTA Design and delivered by Durkan for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the Kidbrooke Park Road scheme provides 452 homes for social rent. It also includes biodiverse green space and community facilities. The project transformed a disused site into a new, civic-led neighbourhood.
A New Neighbourhood for Greenwich
The second phase of the development, Kidbrooke Park Road South, delivers 330 homes across eight residential buildings. These buildings range from six to 15 storeys in height. The homes are a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as family maisonettes. Most feature dual-aspect layouts and offer generous private outdoor space and storage.
The project is part of the wider Greenwich Builds programme. It creates a connected green space that links the two phases of the development. Tree-lined streets, community gardens, playable environments, and green corridors encourage social interaction and support local biodiversity. The completed neighbourhood includes 175 new trees, wildflower meadows, rain gardens, native hedgerows, green roofs, and sustainable drainage systems.
The scheme also provides a nursery and other community facilities. These proposals were developed through extensive consultation with local residents, community groups, and officials. The project received unanimous planning approval.
Architecture and Sustainability
The architecture uses a robust and timeless material palette. Predominantly brick-clad buildings draw inspiration from the surrounding London context, referencing the stock brick of nearby conservation areas. Arched entrances, patterned brickwork, and exposed concrete elements give the development a distinctive identity. Precise massing ensures a strong sense of place.
Sustainability was a key focus throughout the design. The development was designed to achieve net zero carbon through a fabric-first approach and a dedicated energy centre. This system uses air source heat pumps and electric boilers. A rooftop solar PV array and a high-performance building fabric also contribute to the net zero goal. These measures create comfortable, energy-efficient homes for residents.
The significance of Kidbrooke Park Road was recently recognised by senior government officials. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, and Deputy Mayor for Housing Tom Copley visited the site. The visit was part of an announcement that London has secured a record £11.7 billion affordable housing settlement over the next decade. Kidbrooke Park Road was highlighted as an example of the scale and quality that this investment can unlock.
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Simon Bayliss, Managing Partner at HTA Design, said: “Kidbrooke Park Road demonstrates what can be achieved when local authorities take an ambitious approach to housing delivery and are supported by a shared vision between client, design team and contractor. Together, the two phases have delivered the UK’s largest council housing development and one of the most significant social housing projects completed in recent years.”
Ronan Murphy, CEO of Durkan Group, said: “It’s been a privilege to be a key delivery partner for Kidbrooke Park Road and to support the Royal Borough of Greenwich to deliver much needed new council homes that are warm, safe and genuinely fit for the future, through its Greenwich Builds programme. As the largest new social housing development in the country, this is a landmark scheme that sets a benchmark for what can be achieved through ambitious council housebuilding.”
The wider Kidbrooke Park Road development has already received industry recognition. The northern phase won both a Housing Design Award and an Inside Housing Development Award for Best Affordable Housing Development over £20m.
Project Team and Practice
The Kidbrooke Park Road project was delivered by a dedicated team. The client was the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Greenwich Builds. HTA Design served as the architect and environment architect. Durkan Group acted as the main contractor. OCSC provided structural engineering services, and WSP handled services engineering.
HTA Design is an interdisciplinary practice known for influential housing projects in the UK and internationally. The firm has over 250 professionals across architecture, planning, and environment design. HTA is a certified B Corporation, reflecting its commitment to social and environmental performance. The practice operates studios in London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Sydney.
A Benchmark for Future Housing
The project shows that council housing can be delivered at scale without compromising on architectural ambition. From the characterful brickwork and building forms to the generous homes and community spaces, every aspect was designed to create a neighbourhood with a strong sense of place.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “We couldn’t be prouder to be creating the homes that every generation deserves, and at a scale that sets the standard for other local authorities to follow. Kidbrooke Park Road has transformed the lives of hundreds of families and individuals by giving them a secure home in a fantastic new community.”
