New Courtyard Housing in Stratford

: Stratford, Newham, London

This highly sustainable development delivers nine new apartments across four buildings, arranged as two L-shaped blocks within the underused rear car park of an existing residential site of 39 homes. By transforming the hardstanding into landscaped courtyards, the project enhances biodiversity, contributes towards security, and improves amenity space for all residents, old and new.

Sustainability has been prioritised from the outset. The buildings are constructed from off-site prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT), enabling rapid, quiet assembly with minimal disruption to residents during construction. The use of approximately 400m³ of CLT sequesters around 400,000 kg of CO₂, significantly reducing embodied carbon. The new homes are zero to low carbon in operation, relying entirely on electricity from a green mains supply, supplemented by extensive roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels. Roof pitches are clad with PVs, maximising renewable energy generation, while the building form is designed to allow natural light to reach neighbouring homes. Energy efficiency is integral: the apartments feature high levels of insulation, electric underfloor heating, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, significantly reducing demand on the grid. All parking bays are set for electric charging points, supporting future-ready, low-carbon transport, and all tarmac is permeable to prevent flooding and disperse rainwater in the soil. Visually, timber hit-and-miss façades reference the CLT structure while complementing the existing brick buildings, resulting in a coherent and respectful architectural response. This project demonstrates how infill development can deliver high-quality, sustainable housing with minimal environmental impact—achieving climate-conscious design without compromising community, comfort, or character.