Union Street Plymouth Could See 300 New Homes in National Award Finalist Project

By
Louis Chadwick
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Clifton Emery Design, Nudge community builders, Millfields Trust , Plymouth Energy Community, Devon and Cornwall Planning Consultants – 300 Homes within a Union Street Mile

A proposal to create 300 homes along Union Street in Plymouth has been named one of three finalists in a national housing design competition.

Union Street Plymouth housing project Key Takeaways:

  • Union Street recognised nationally – A housing proposal focused on Union Street has been shortlisted in a prestigious UK-wide design competition, highlighting the area’s potential for community-led regeneration.

  • Local organisations involved – The project brings together several Plymouth-based partners, including Nudge Community Builders, Millfields Trust, and Plymouth Energy Community, showcasing local expertise in sustainable and affordable housing.

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  • Focus on affordability and community – The concept includes affordable rented homes with shared amenities like workspaces and gardens, aiming to revitalise the high street while supporting community cohesion and low-carbon living.

The project, titled 300 Homes within a Union Street Mile, was submitted by a team including Clifton Emery Design, Nudge Community Builders, Millfields Trust, Plymouth Energy Community, and Devon and Cornwall Planning Consultants. It has been shortlisted for the 2025 Davidson Prize, which this year focused on innovative approaches to meeting the government’s target of building 1.5 million homes over the next five years.

The Union Street scheme proposes placing a sequence of affordable rented homes with co-living features along the historic high street. According to the team, the homes would be manufactured off site to a modular 600mm grid and include shared kitchens, workspaces, food growing areas, and energy-efficient features, alongside private living space.

The Davidson Prize invited multidisciplinary teams to put forward ideas for communities of 300 homes in real locations across the UK. The 2025 brief sought designs that could address urban, suburban, and rural housing challenges while promoting sustainability and community cohesion.

Two other projects were shortlisted:

  • 1 House, 2 Homes… make a neighbourhood by Ash Sakula with Human Nature, based on a test site in Seaham, County Durham.
  • Positive Disturbance – Realising Brownfield Potential by FLOC + MAZi Architects and partners, set in Clasper Village, Gateshead.

Each finalist receives £5,000 and access to communications workshops to further develop their concept ahead of a final judging stage. The winner, who will receive an additional £10,000 and support from visualisation studio Hayes Davidson, is due to be announced on 10 June at an event during the London Festival of Architecture.

The Davidson Prize was established in memory of architect and visualisation pioneer Alan Davidson and aims to promote innovative, collaborative housing design across the UK.

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