The William Sutton Prize for Sustainability remains a cornerstone of the programme, supporting projects that contribute to the restoration and preservation of our natural world, benefiting residents and communities.
Successful applicants can receive up to £50,000 in funding alongside tailored project support.
Regenerative Places: Enriching nature, homes and communities
We are looking for new and breakthrough ideas in new homes and existing neighbourhoods that can actively contribute to the restoration and preservation of our natural world, ultimately benefiting current and future residents and communities.
No idea is too big or too small; what matters is that ideas demonstrate strong potential for impact and scalability across the sector.
In addition to welcoming any idea that helps the social housing sector and residents restore and preserve our natural world, we are particularly interested in receiving submissions that also work towards one or more of the following interrelated focus areas:
- Regenerative and Climate-Resilient Design: Proposals that enhance community health and wellbeing while improving building longevity. Examples include innovative green construction methods that restore nature and exceed net-zero targets, as well as solutions to make homes resilient to extreme weather, such as nature-based approaches that protect ecosystems and vulnerable communities.
- Retrofitting and Renewable Energy: Proposals that enhance living conditions, lower resident bills, and boost financial and environmental sustainability. Examples include scalable retrofit solutions to upgrade existing homes and innovative financial models to make large-scale retrofitting affordable and cost-efficient.
- Resource Efficiency and Carbon Reduction: Proposals that cut utility bills, conserve resources, reduce waste and carbon emissions, and align with climate goals. Examples include water-efficient homes and infrastructure, as well as circular solutions like bio-based materials and recycling and reuse programmes to minimise construction and household waste.
- Biodiversity and Nature Recovery: Proposals to boost biodiversity, support pollinators, and create recreational green spaces to enhance resident wellbeing and connection to nature. Examples include diverse landscaping with native plants, wildlife corridors for ecological connectivity, and habitat restoration in construction and upgrade projects.
- Wellbeing and Placemaking: Proposals that drive climate friendly choices and community initiatives to improve wellbeing through ideas driven by sustainability. Examples include sustainable travel options like electric vehicles and cycling, and resident engagement tools for property management, energy efficiency, and ongoing feedback through digital platforms.
Meet the judges
The esteemed panel of judges are a diverse group of experts and industry leaders dedicated to identifying and supporting groundbreaking ideas that drive meaningful change.
- Chair: Jock Lennox, Chair of the Clarion Housing Group Board
- Bukky Bird, Group Sustainability Director of Barratt Developments
- Greg Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Vistry Group
- Tara Gbolade, Co-Founding Director of Gbolade Design Studio
- Peter Murray, Co-Founder of New London Architecture
- Miles Lewis, Director of Sustainability at Clarion Housing Group
- Nick Wood, Regional Managing Director (South) at Clarion Housing Group
Apply today
Applications are now open for innovators ready to turn great ideas into reality and close at midday on 8 April 2025.
Submissions are welcome from individuals, not-for-profit organisations, and commercial entities. Individuals must be over 18 years old and residing in the UK, while organisations must be registered to operate in England. Successful projects should take place within England.
For full details on eligibility and timelines, please refer to the application guidelines, which feature a digital toolkit designed to encourage collaboration and empower individuals and organisations to join us in sharing our mission of discovering innovative solutions. For answers to common questions, explore the full FAQs section.
Together, we can work towards creating meaningful change and fostering a greater impact across the sector. For further questions or assistance, please contact us.
FAQs
You can find answers to frequently asked questions below. For more information, please contact us.