Designed for Phoenix Community Housing, the 1,970m² symmetrical scheme supports affordable housing targets set out by London Borough of Lewisham and the Mayor of London and are designed to Passivhaus Low Energy Building Standard, drastically reducing residents’ energy bills.

The scheme, which replaces a two-storey terrace, comprises 18 two and three-bedroom homes available at London Affordable Rent and six two and three-bedroom shared ownership homes.

Not-for-profit, resident-led housing association Phoenix Community Housing currently manages over 6,000 homes. It operates its own maintenance company and is committed to improving housing conditions in the borough.

The infill scheme is within the Bellingham Estate, a post-First World War garden city-style estate designed by the London County Council and one of London’s few remaining Arts and Crafts-influenced estates. It was originally designed to ease congestion in the inner city.

Metropolitan Workshop’s new homes take inspiration from the surrounding context, featuring two gatehouse buildings framing a new entrance to a larger apartment building at the back of the site.

A central entranceway off Farmstead Road leads through a shared courtyard to a galleried access, flanked by the fluted brick lift and stair towers.

Integrated within the road’s existing streetscape, the front three-storey dwellings have a frontage and scale similar to the existing low-rise terraces. Brickwork detailing references distinctive corner and end-of-terrace buildings found throughout Bellingham.

The larger apartment block adopts a symmetrical butterfly-shaped design, cranked to align with the estate’s geometric layout with a kinked plan ensuring an inward-facing orientation – also reducing direct overlooking on to neighbouring properties.

The colour orange is heavily featured throughout as the finish for metal detailing such as mansard roofs and scalloped balustrades – both nods to the form of nearby villa apartments and local brick archways.

Metropolitan Workshop was commissioned for the scheme via competition in 2018 and received planning from Lewisham Council in July 2022.

In 2024, the practice got the green light for another housing scheme in Lewisham – this time replacing a hostel with 64 affordable homes.

Architect’s view

The completion of Farmstead Road represents a significant milestone in Phoenix Community Housing’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable homes in Lewisham. This project reflects Metropolitan Workshop’s dedication to contextually sensitive and socially responsible architecture that enriches local communities.
Tom Mitchell, partner, Metropolitan Workshop

 

Client’s view

We’re so proud of this scheme and the quality of the homes at Farmstead Road. Having a high-quality home makes such a difference to people’s lives, and we’re already seeing a lovely community forming here. This is our second Passivhaus housing scheme, which means the homes are some of the most sustainable we’ve ever built, supporting our residents to live in comfort all year round.
Denise Fowler, chief executive, Phoenix Community Housing

 

Project data

Location Farmstead Road, London SE6
Local authority Lewisham Council
Tender date July 2022
Start on site July 2023
Completion July 2025
Gross internal floor area 1,968m²
Gross external floor area 2,359m²
Form of contractor or procurement route Design and build
Client Phoenix Community Housing
Architect Metropolitan Workshop
Landscape architect LUC
Planning consultant BPTW
Structural engineer Jubb
Passivhaus consultant Etude (planning stage), Cowans (construction stage)
M&E consultant PJR Building Services
Quantity surveyor Potter Raper
Principal designer Potter Raper
Project manager Potter Raper
CDM co-ordinator Potter Raper
Acoustic consultant KP Acoustics
Approved building inspector Premier Building Control 
Main contractor Buxton
CAD software used MicroStation