Goldsmith Street
New build
Summary
Goldsmith Street is a landmark social housing development in Norwich, commissioned by Norwich City Council and designed by Mikhail Riches. This 93-home Passivhaus scheme demonstrates that local authorities can deliver net zero-ready homes to a tight budget without sacrificing quality or design ambition. Winner of the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize, it is widely regarded as a UK benchmark for sustainable affordable housing.
Human-scale terraces and sunny streets create a strong sense of community, with all homes meeting Passivhaus Classic standard. Annual energy bills can be as low as £150 per home. The development is entirely tenure blind, with shared play areas and community facilities, and 50% of homes are for market sale — with proceeds reinvested into further council housing. A hybrid MMC timber frame achieves outstanding airtightness and thermal performance while minimising embodied carbon.
Key Features
- Winner of the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize
- 93 Passivhaus-certified homes, Norwich’s first council housing in a generation
- Annual running costs as low as £150 per home (of which £90 is standing charge)
- Fabric-first hybrid timber frame with Warmcel insulation
- Tenure-blind design with shared community spaces
- Ongoing performance monitoring informs future phases of delivery
Sustainability Indicators
- Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Operational energy, Ownership models, Performance monitoring, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
