Jay Morton

Jay Morton is a Director at Bell Phillips specialising in medium and large-scale residential projects. She has led projects such as a masterplan for 185 new homes and a health centre in Staines; Marklake Court, a community-led housing scheme in Southwark; and major developments including a 408-home regeneration scheme at Smithfield in Birmingham and a large-scale student housing new build and retrofit at Victoria Point in Manchester. All of Jay’s projects focus on placemaking and urban regeneration. Earlier work such as Newham Housing, a prototype for replicable family homes across multiple sites, reflects her ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, socially responsive design.

Jay conducts housing and climate change research, and actively engages in public speaking. She is a prominent housing campaigner and serves on the Croydon, Ealing, and Islington design review panels.

Beyond her architectural practice, Jay is a dynamic political thinker and campaigner. She stood as the Labour candidate for Chichester in the 2019 General Election and is a key member of Architects for Affordable Housing, who have launched five actionable priorities for policymakers. Her podcast, Architects for Change, delves into the intersection of architecture, the built environment and politics, advocating for sustainable and equitable urban development with guest speakers from across the industry. Through her collaborative efforts, Jay continues to champion actionable solutions for affordable housing.

"I’m honoured to chair the British Homes Awards this year. It’s an exciting opportunity to celebrate the creativity, rigour, and social impact of great housing design across the UK."