Luxborough Street

: Westminster

Located in the heart of Marylebone, Luxborough Street is a highly contextual new-build development for Westminster City Council, delivering 14 much-needed affordable homes and a ground-floor community nursery. Arranged over six storeys, the project responds sensitively to its surroundings through a stepped massing that reduces overlooking and respects neighbouring homes, while green roofs visually connect the building to nearby Paddington Street and Luxborough Tower Gardens.

The development provides one- and two-bedroom dual-aspect flats, all designed to high sustainability standards. MVHR units, a fabric-first approach with low U-values and high airtightness, and photovoltaic panels contribute to significantly reduced operational energy. The generous private balconies offer views of surrounding green spaces, promoting wellbeing and a connection to nature for residents. The external palette of red brick, linear banding, and zinc cladding reflects the local vernacular while introducing contemporary detailing. The new building occupies a site with a rich and layered past—formerly the location of a parish workhouse, burial ground, and council housing—transformed into a high-quality, sustainable community asset. A key challenge was balancing the delivery of new affordable housing with complex planning and conservation requirements in a dense urban setting. Through close collaboration with Westminster and a design-led, sustainable approach, the project successfully navigated these constraints. The nursery at ground floor, designed with zoned spaces and outdoor play areas, reinforces the development’s community focus. Complete and fully occupied, Luxborough Street demonstrates how high-quality, low-energy architecture can address urgent housing needs while enhancing historic city neighbourhoods.