Melfield Gardens, located in Lewisham, is the UK’s first fully affordable intergenerational housing development. This innovative project has attracted national attention, with coverage on the BBC, highlighting its unique approach to community living.
Developed by Phoenix Community Housing, a not-for-profit, resident-led housing association, Melfield Gardens addresses social isolation, loneliness and housing shortages by combining homes for older residents and students. The development comprises 30 one-bedroom-plus flats for residents aged 55 and over, alongside two four-bedroom flats accommodating eight postgraduate students from Goldsmiths, University of London. In exchange for reduced rent, students take part in voluntary cultural and recreational activities that support older residents, helping to combat loneliness and strengthen community connections.
This project builds on the success of Phoenix Community Housing’s award-winning Hazelhurst Court, located in the same street, bringing together the same trusted team, Potter Raper, Levitt Bernstein, and Etude, to deliver the next generation of low-energy social housing.
The BBC followed two residents, grandmother Claire, 60, and student Morley, 28, to explore their experiences of life at Melfield Gardens. Claire told the BBC: “It’s lovely to have people around, it really makes you feel part of a community. The students help bring energy and life into the building, and it’s great to share experiences with them.”
Sustainable Design and Passivhaus Features
Melfield Gardens exemplifies sustainable design, built to Passivhaus Classic standards to maximise energy efficiency while reducing resident bills. Homes feature dual-aspect layouts, triple-glazed windows, solar shading, mechanical ventilation, green roofs, and communal gardens. The blocks were carefully angled to maximise solar gain and optimise the volume-to-surface area ratio, while a fabric-first design approach allowed the use of direct electrical heating and hot water to minimise fuel poverty and future-proof the scheme as the grid decarbonises.
The pre-contract design team advised on energy strategy, heating systems, and Passivhaus performance, whilst we helped navigate stakeholder preferences, ensuring the project achieved ambitious energy targets while maintaining programme and budget efficiencies.
Potter Raper’s Role
We provided Employer’s Agent, Cost Consultancy, Clerk of Works and CDM Principal Designer services. The team ensured health and safety compliance, oversaw construction quality, managed budgets, and maintained effective communication between stakeholders throughout delivery. Key contributions included:
- MEP Stakeholder Engagement
- Resident Engagement & Site Logistics
- Network Rail Liaison
- Network Rail Design Response
- Rights of Light
- Electricity Network Upgrade Changes
Through careful management, we added significant value by creating a collaborative and time-effective relationship between the client and design team, helping ensure the delivery of a high-quality Passivhaus development.
Community Impact
Melfield Gardens has been widely praised for fostering a vibrant, supportive environment. Phoenix Community Housing Chief Executive Denise Fowler said: “The intergenerational nature of the scheme will support our residents’ wellbeing and help them to thrive.” The communal landscape and shared activities encourage neighbourly connections, while the two student flats promote cross-generational relationships, helping address issues of isolation and loneliness.
Recognition
The project, completed in March 2024, won the GLA Housing Design Award 2021 and has gained national media attention through the BBC. Melfield Gardens demonstrates how thoughtful design, sustainable building practices, and community engagement can create innovative solutions to social housing challenges.
Team
Phoenix Community Housing
Goldsmiths, University of London
Levitt Bernstein
Etude Energy Consultants
Max Fordham
Potter Raper
Read the BBC News article here.
View project page here.
