Higgins Partnerships wins Planning Award for Somerleyton Road development
Posted 10/06/2026
Higgins Partnerships is delighted to announce that its Somerleyton Road development in Brixton has won the Best Use of Publicly Owned Land and/or Property in Placemaking category at the Planning Awards 2026.
The award recognises the collaborative efforts behind Somerleyton Road Phase 2, a landmark regeneration project being delivered in partnership with Lambeth Council. The scheme demonstrates how underutilised land can be transformed into a thriving, sustainable neighbourhood, which will deliver much-needed affordable homes alongside wider social and economic benefits for the local community.
The planning strategy and process were led by Sphere 25, working closely with architects BPTW, Higgins, Lambeth Council and the wider consultation team. Together, the project team successfully navigated the scheme through pre-application, community consultation and planning committee stages, ensuring local voices helped shape the development while aligning with the council’s long-term regeneration ambitions.
The development will deliver 378 new homes in total, of which 56% will be social and affordable housing, located on Somerleyton Road in Central Brixton. Situated on council-owned land that was previously under-utilised, it will also incorporate a community gym, extra care homes, new community and commercial spaces and significant improvements to the public areas along the street
The initial phase will provide 187 new social and affordable homes, contributing to the ongoing redevelopment project that has already seen the Brixton House community theatre created.
Alongside the new homes and community spaces, the project will deliver significant benefits for the local community, including more than £600,000 in investment for local jobs and skills training, transport improvements, greener streets, new trees, accessible parking and upgrades to nearby parks and play spaces.
The judges recognised the project’s exemplary approach to placemaking, community engagement and partnership collaboration, highlighting its success in unlocking a complex brownfield site to deliver lasting benefits for residents and the wider community.
