Verna wins Best Housing Partnership at British Homes Awards 2023
11 Oct 2023

Verna at Acton Gardens, the latest phase of our 3,463-home regeneration scheme with L&Q and Ealing Council, has been awarded Best Housing Partnership at this year’s British Homes Awards.

These prestigious awards recognise excellence and innovation in the British housebuilding industry, focusing on architectural design, interior design, build quality and innovation showcased by one-off houses through to major developments. The British Awards judges gave the following praise to the project: "The winning scheme showcased how high-quality design in this partnership was present throughout. We were particularly drawn to the street activation and how the scheme engaged with the wider area.”

Designed by GRID Architects, Verna at Acton Gardens in west London contains 210 high-quality, tenure blind new homes, which all enjoy a private balcony, terrace, or garden space. The win for Verna recognises the contribution of the joint venture between Countryside Partnerships and L&Q, in partnership with Ealing Council, which is delivering the 3,463-home regeneration masterplan for Acton Gardens, with a 50/50 split between private and affordable homes.

At Verna, several different housing types of duplexes and lateral apartments form a secluded development around a communal podium. Gently sloping pathways weave terraced planters to provide level access between the two levels, making it inclusive for people of all abilities. The duplexes recreate familiar terrace streets with front doors & gardens to encourage people to meet and mix.

The island nature of the site creates good levels of sunlight, so GRID Architects have optimised this to create dual aspect apartments, green roofs, courtyard planting and native plant species to enhance biodiversity. The balcony balustrades feature an elegant, perforated oak leaf pattern – a play on the name Acton, which is derived from the Old English for ac (oak) and tun (farm).

This success at the British Homes Awards is testament to the hard work of our team and a reflection of the positive impact that the high-quality design and innovation of our schemes, like Acton Gardens, is having on local communities.