AWARD-WINNING DESIGNS MEAN BUSINESS-WINNING RESULTS

ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR 2026


The home is our sanctuary and the foundation of our communities. In a nation that values exceptional design and sustainable living, the British Homes Awards stand as the ultimate tribute to the art and science of residential excellence. 

For over a decade, we have been solely dedicated to the UK’s housing sector, honouring everything from bespoke private residencies to transformative large-scale developments.

Whether you are a developer, architect, or designer, this is your stage. Beyond just a trophy, a British Homes Award offers a prestigious stamp of approval recognised by the industry and the public. It is a celebration of the entire collaborative team, the visionaries who create the places Britain is proud to call home.

Are you ready to elevate your brand and accelerate your sales? Enter now.


"To have our project selected by such an esteemed panel, from an undoubtedly excellent field of entries, is a real testament to the creativity and dedication of our team and the ambition of our client."

- Threefold Architects

KEY INFORMATION


KEY DATES

First entry deadline: Thursday 26 March 2026

Second entry deadline: Thursday 7 May 2026

Final entry deadline: Thursday 18 June 2026


ENTRY FEES

First entry deadline fee: £399 + VAT

Second entry deadline fee: £485 + VAT

Final entry deadline fee: £570 + VAT


WHY ENTER?


THE ULTIMATE SALES TOOL

Use our seal of excellence to differentiate your development in a crowded market, build instant buyer trust, and drive premium sales values.

ATTRACT TOP-TIER TALENT AND CLIENTS

Success is a magnet. Winning a British Homes Award cements your reputation as an industry leader, making your firm the first choice for ambitious new recruits and high-value clients seeking the UK’s top design intelligence.

NATIONAL PRESTIGE, NICHE FOCUS

Unlike broad property awards, we focus exclusively on the residential sector. This singular focus ensures your work is judged by true specialists, providing an incredible level of industry respect and national exposure.

2026 CHAIR OF JUDGES

Chloe Phelps, Director at BPTW & Grounded


Chloe is an architect, regeneration and housing expert with more than twenty years experience having worked in senior positions in private practice and local authority planning & development teams. She established female led practice Grounded in 2021 which was born from her public sector role as Head of Design delivering the Croydon Small Sites programme. After a successful period of collaboration, Grounded joined BPTW in 2025 Chloe is a regular industry voice; contributing to campaign group Architects' Action for Affordable Homes, Good Homes For All with the Architect's Journal. Chloe also chairs and sits on independent Design Review Panels across London and the Southeast including Camden, Ebbsfleet and Thanet.

What top tip would you give to this year's entrants?

We have a housing affordability crisis, so I'm keen to see examples of schemes that find the right balance of quality whilst demonstrating they are replicable and deliverable. How do we keep design quality on the agenda whilst budgets are ever shrinking?

READ MORE

"With a strong panel of judges and industry experts creating the shortlist it is great recognition for the whole internal team and wider consultants and contractors for the heart and soul that has gone into the Willowside Grange Development."

Castlethorpe Homes

2026 CATEGORIES


NEW FOR 2026! Social Value Development of the Year, Best Residential Garden Design, Best Public Realm and Placemaking.


2026 AWARD CATEGORIES

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

This award goes to a high-quality development, or dedicated phase, that delivers truly affordable homes to lower income households. It is open to micro-living; modular homes, first time buyer schemes; build-to-rent and other rental innovations; as well as homes for social rent, affordable rent, intermediate rent or shared ownership. The entry should outline the number of homes, tenure mix, prices and how the design enhances residents’ lives. On a multi-site build, while it is good to reference the scale of the full site, your entry must focus on the affordable housing element. Please note the sale price/rent per unit.

APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR

This award goes to a single building or multi-building scheme of apartments that demonstrates architectural excellence, design quality and makes a positive contribution to its context. The entry should outline the number of apartments, tenure mix, size in sq ft and any other uses on site.

BEST COMMUNITY LIVING

This award celebrates developments that provide residents with sophisticated amenities alongside homes, such as co-working hubs, wellness suites and shared lounges. Open to Build-to-Rent, Student Housing and Co-living models, the entry should demonstrate how design fosters social cohesion and address requirements of its demographic. Judges look for solutions and design solutions that provide and create community and sense of place.

BEST HOUSING PARTNERSHIP

To support the UK’s housing needs, this award recognises innovative partnerships between developers and other bodies to deliver homes adding value to the community. This includes excellent partnerships and joint ventures between housebuilders and organisations such as local councils, housing associations, retailers, utilities or public landowners.

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN: DEVELOPMENT

This award goes to the best interior design for a show home within a residential development. Entries should demonstrate how the designer has communicated the developer’s vision and engaged the target buyer.

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN: INDIVIDUAL HOME (UP TO 2,500 SQ FT)

This award goes to the best interior design of a home. It can include some or all rooms. Judges will look for evidence of the designer’s unique response to the challenges of the property and if the requirements of the owners are met. Please focus on space planning, finishes, colours and furnishings.

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN: INDIVIDUAL HOME (OVER 2,500 SQ FT)

This award goes to the best interior design of a home. It can include some or all rooms. Judges will look for evidence of the designer’s unique response to the challenges of the property and if the requirements of the owners are met. Please focus on space planning, finishes, colours and furnishings.

BEST PUBLIC REALM AND PLACEMAKING

This award recognises exceptional landscaping and urban design within the public or communal areas of a residential or mixed-use development. Judges look for designs that contribute to the wider context of the neighborhood, providing high-quality shared spaces that encourage social interaction and community cohesion. The entry should outline how the scheme improves the local environment, maintains sustainable best practices in land use, and acts as a catalyst for local growth and renewal.

BEST RESIDENTIAL GARDEN DESIGN

This award goes to the best garden design for an individual home or a private residential development. Judges look for excellence in planting and hard landscaping that enhances the immediate living environment for residents. The entry should demonstrate how the design provides an aesthetically pleasing response to the site’s topography, creates a seamless connection between internal and external spaces, and promotes biodiversity.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR (UP TO 10 HOMES)

This award is open to smaller residential developments of up to 10 homes that demonstrate exceptional sensitivity to context and clever solutions for design and construction. It focuses on overcoming the challenges of working on a small scale on constrained city, town, brownfield or village sites. The judges will consider external and internal design, innovation in design and delivery, landscaping, and the scheme’s relationship with/contribution to its environment.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR (10 TO 100 HOMES)

This award goes to the best residential development of 10 to 100 homes. Judges will consider external and internal design, development layout, landscaping, community and the scheme’s relationship with/contribution to its environment. The entry should outline the number of units, phasing, tenure mix and other uses within the scheme.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR (OVER 100 HOMES)

This award goes to the best residential development with more than 100 homes. Judges will consider external and internal design, development layout, landscaping, community and the scheme’s relationship with/contribution to its environment. The entry should outline the number of units, phasing, tenure mix and other uses within the scheme.

DEVELOPMENT TRANSFORMATION OF THE YEAR

This award goes to the best large-scale residential refurbishment, restoration or conversion, providing more than one home. It is open to conversions of existing buildings, such as industrial-to-residential, retail-to-residential, office-to-residential as well as the upgrading of a housing estate or the restoration of a heritage building. The entry should outline the creative response to the brief, any challenges presented by the building and its environment, in addition to the final innovative design solution. The entry must include before and after imagery of the transformation.

HOME EXTENSION OF THE YEAR

This award goes to an extension designed by an architect for an individual home. Judges will look for quality and innovation in the interpretation of the design brief.

HOME TRANSFORMATION OF THE YEAR (UP TO 2,500 SQ FT)

This award goes to the best refurbishment, restoration or conversion of an individual home of up to and including 2,500 sq ft. The entry should outline the creative response to the brief, any challenges presented by the building and its environment, in addition to the final innovative design solution. The entry must include before and after imagery of the transformation.

LATER LIVING/SUPPORTED LIVING DESIGN OF THE YEAR

This award recognises schemes or developments that are specifically designed to support later living or those in need of additional support and care. The overall design needs to be fit for purpose, for example offering elements that give both a community feel and encourages social interaction while also providing a sense of independence. The entry will work to suit a range of residents’ needs and demonstrate clear adherence to the brief. Entries will be rewarded for an innovative approach to retirement or supported living, which puts health and wellbeing at the centre of the build.

HOME TRANSFORMATION OF THE YEAR (OVER 2,500 SQ FT)

This award goes to the best refurbishment, restoration or conversion of an individual home of more than 2,500 sq ft. The entry should outline the creative response to the brief, any challenges presented by the building and its environment, in addition to the final innovative design solution. The entry must include before and after imagery of the transformation.

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR

This award is open to mixed-use schemes, this includes homes alongside at least one other use, such as office, retail or leisure. Judges look for evidence of positive change through design, layout, public realm and landscaping. The entry should outline the uses included in the scheme and their sizes in sq ft.

NEW HOUSE OF THE YEAR (UP TO 2,500 SQ FT)

This award goes to the best one-off, new-build house of up to and including 2,500 sq ft. Judges will be looking for designs that creatively redefine single-family homes by offering stylish yet comfortable houses, balancing innovation with efficiency and functionality with aesthetic rigour.

NEW HOUSE OF THE YEAR (OVER 2,500 SQ FT)

This award goes to the best one-off, new-build house of more than 2,500 sq ft. Judges will be looking for designs that creatively redefine single-family homes by offering stylish yet comfortable houses, balancing innovation with efficiency and functionality with aesthetic rigour.

REGENERATION SCHEME OF THE YEAR

This award goes to an outstanding residential project acting as a catalyst for renewal and growth in an urban or rural setting. It can include new homes on derelict land or the refurbishment of existing buildings. The entry should demonstrate how the project regenerates the wider area.

SOCIAL VALUE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR

This award recognises residential projects that demonstrate a measurable, positive impact on the lives of residents and wider community. Judges look for evidence of how the development fosters social inclusion, supports resident health and wellbeing, and provides long-term economic or educational benefits to the area. The entry should outline specific social value objectives, such as the use of local labor, the provision of accessible public spaces, or initiatives that empower and strengthen community.

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR

This award recognises new or retrofit schemes that use environmentally-friendly building materials, recycled or renewable if possible, as well as materials that use minimal energy to manufacture. This category incorporates all the key elements of a sustainable architectural design including demonstrating the use of sustainable energy sources, building materials as well as maintaining sustainable best practices in terms of land use. Please provide details of the initial sustainability goals and how they have been met. Please also provide any accreditations the design has received.

2026 JUDGES AWARDS (Not Open for Entry)

Architect of the Year

Developer of the Year

Interior Designer of the Year

Judges award for excellence

2025 CHAIR OF JUDGES

Jay Morton, Director at Bell Phillips

Hear industry insights from Jay Morton on what makes a house extraordinary, what a home shouldn't have, and how she lead the judging panel.

"I'm honoured to be shortlisted for the British Homes Awards, a recognition that carries real weight given the extremely high calibre of projects and the discerning expertise of the judging panel."

Nichola McKerrow Todd, Founder No Ordinary House

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS


Check out our industry insights to keep up to date on the latest trends including housing solutions, sustainable design practices, and health focused spaces.

Sustainable Materials: Building a Greener Future for British Homes

Interview with a Judges Award winner: Phil Coffey, Founder, Coffey Architects

Interview with a British Homes Awards Judge: Beatrix Young

Judges Category Winner Interview: Craig Rosenblatt, ROAR Architects

AMPLIFY YOUR WIN

If you're a winner at these awards, we can now help you shout about your success, even more, via our amplification packages.

You’ve had an amazing night out, you’ve picked up an award, you’ve slept off the celebrations, but do the people that really matter know you’ve won big?

We’re here to help. We want to get your win out there, to the audience, in front of prospective clients (and competitors!).

That’s why we’ve put together an instant shout-about-it package: quick turnaround content that won’t destroy your marketing budget.


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