Solihull Council is celebrating recognition at the highest level for its Mountfort development in Kingshurst, which has been named ‘Best Small Social Housing Development’ at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards 2025 – West Midlands. Taking the top spot regionally, the scheme has now been shortlisted for the prestigious Grand Finals 2025, placing it among the top social housing projects in the country.
The 25 energy-efficient new homes, delivered in partnership with Solihull Community Housing by national contractor Willmott Dixon, form the first completed phase of the wider Kingshurst Village centre regeneration programme. Built on the site of the former Mountfort pub, the development has already welcomed its first residents and is being hailed as a blueprint for sustainable, community-focused housing.
The Mountfort development features a mix of one-bedroom maisonettes and three- and four-bedroom family homes, all designed to reduce environmental impact and lower energy bills. Each home an includes air source heat pump, solar PV panels, and EV charging points, and has achieved an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate.
Cllr Ian Courts, Deputy Leader of Solihull Council and Lead Member for Managed Growth, said:
“This award is a testament to the dedication, skill and vision of everyone involved in delivering the Mountfort development. From our partners at Willmott Dixon and Solihull Community Housing to the teams within the Council, this has been a truly collaborative effort.
“The quality, sustainability and community focus of this first phase sets a benchmark for the rest of the Kingshurst regeneration scheme, and I’m proud to see it recognised on a national stage.”
Dan Doyle, Director at Willmott Dixon, added:
“It’s fantastic to see all that we have achieved recognised with this competitive award win. Working closely with our project partners, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Solihull Community Housing, we’ve seen real ambition and commitment to high quality new homes become reality.”
Prioritising energy efficient materials, in what’s known as a ‘fabric-first approach’, the modern low carbon homes were built using sustainable prefabricated timber frames, manufactured in the UK and erected on site. This method of construction allows for airtight insulation and combined with ultra-low U-value windows and doors provides for maximum thermal efficiency, so the new homes are both well insulated and economical to heat.
The wider Kingshurst regeneration scheme will deliver 78 new homes in total, alongside modern retail space and a new community health and wellness hub.
The national LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Finals will take place later this year, where this development will compete against the best in the UK for top honours in social housing design and delivery.