Not 1... not 2... but 3 CIP schemes won RIBA National Awards - Camden wins big at national building design awards - CIP

Three Community Investment Programme (CIP) projects have been awarded RIBA National Awards this month.

Agar Grove estate’s new homes, Edith Neville Primary School and Central Somers Town community facilities and housing are the three CIP schemes among the top 30 UK developments to take home this prestigious architectural award in 2023.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is the UK’s leading professional body for architects, who have been celebrating standout architecture for over 180 years through their awards and prizes.

RIBA Nationals are awarded to a select number of buildings across the UK each year that have made a significant contribution to architecture, but also promoted positive and lasting change in the local community.

Neil Vokes, Director of Development at Camden Council said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the Council and our residents, who play an important part in helping to design the developments we build in their communities. These awards recognise our commitment as a proud council builder to delivering the high-quality council homes, schools, and community facilities our residents need. I’m delighted to see Camden taking home three national RIBA awards, and I’m pleased for our communities who live, learn, and play in these developments.”

Ruby Nasser, Headteacher at Edith Neville Primary School said: “Our new building has given us the chance to provide a range of opportunities for our children. We have been able to expand our provision for art, music, drama, and cooking in our studio. The new building was designed to ensure the children have plenty of access to outdoor learning space and natural light, which has created a feeling of calmness across the school and greatly supported the children's wellbeing.” As noted by RIBA, two of the winning CIP projects, Edith Neville Primary School and Central Somers Town community facilities and housing, have both been ‘remarkably inventive’ and community engagement has formed the heart of both these redevelopments.

At Edith Neville Primary School, Camden and Hayhurst & Co Architects sought to rejuvenate the school, replacing a previously dilapidated building into a modern and bright learning environment, whilst enhancing outdoor play spaces to include a country garden and potting shed.

Just a stone’s throw away, the Central Somers Town regeneration project was awarded a RIBA National. The scope of this project was broad, Camden worked closely with young residents to build a flexible community children’s facility, Plot 10, which incorporates many of the amenities children asked for, such as a large rooftop football pitch. This award-winning development also includes Tessa Jowell Court which provides 10 new council homes and is home to local theatre education charity, Scene and Heard.Alongside Mae Architects, Camden is building one of the UK’s largest low-energy, Passivhaus developments at Agar Grove estate, which won this award for Phase 1b of the regeneration. This phase saw the construction of 57 new homes, 60% of which are affordable, as well as the creation of vibrant communal amenity spaces.

RIBA commended this development for being extremely ambitious in providing high-calibre, energy efficient homes that are fit for future and that will help save on fuel costs.

CIP is Camden’s ambitious plan to invest over £2bn in homes, schools, and community spaces. Over the past couple of years, 10 of our CIP projects have won awards, including: Housing Design Awards, Camden Design Awards and New London Architecture Awards.