Sutton Estate shortlisted for top resilience award

The renovation of Sutton Estate in Chelsea has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Project – Asset Resilience’ category at the ICE London Awards 2025.

The project to refurbish four residential blocks at Chelsea’s Sutton Estate, a 100-year-old social housing development owned by Clarion Housing Group, is a great example of retrofit.

Announced in October, the ICE London awards show how thoughtful engineering and design can extend the life and resilience of essential housing infrastructure.

Our structural and civil engineers worked closely with HTA to transform the small, outdated studios into spacious, future-ready homes that are sustainable, affordable and low-carbon.

Key resilience highlights of the project include:

• Reconfiguring the original studios to create a mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes, including eight fully accessible ground-floor flats for wheelchair users
• The installation of lifts in every block to ensure full access to upper floors.
• New balconies which provide outdoor space, while a central landscaped community garden encourages social connection and access to nature
• Well-designed communal green spaces, which feature raingardens, forming part of the estate-wide SuDS strategy

Rob Westcott, director in our London studio, said: "The heritage-led refurbishment of The Sutton Estate is an outstanding example of retrofit, urban regeneration and estate renewal at one of the country’s oldest purpose-built social housing developments. 

"The design has delivered modern, sustainable homes within a building that had become unfit for use, while respecting conservation area context. The project has greatly improved estate-wide drainage, green space and accessibility, with landscaped courtyards, play trails and places to sit out."

We look forward to joining our industry peers at the awards in October and celebrating the role engineering plays in building a more resilient future.