Mountfort development wins ‘Best Small Social Housing Development’ at LABC Building Excellence Awards 2025 – West Midlands
A development of 25 new energy-efficient homes in Kingshurst, Solihull, has won a prestigious prize. The Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellent Awards 2025 – West Midlands, recognised the Mountfort development as ‘Best Small Social Housing Development.’
Photo courtesy of Solihull Community Housing
Having won the regional award, the scheme is now if the shortlist for the grand final to be held later this year, alongside other top social housing projects from across the country.
The first residents have already moved into the new development, which has been built on the site of the former Mountfort pub – and is the first completed phase of the wider Kingshurst Village centre regeneration programme, which will ultimately deliver 78 new homes as well as retail space and a new community health and wellness hub.
The Mountfort development has been delivered via a partnership between Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Solihull Community Housing, with contractor Willmott Dixon. The council is keen that the project is a blueprint for further sustainable, community-focused housing.
The new development boasts a mixture of one-bedroom maisonettes and three and four-bedroom family homes. They’ve all been designed to reduce environmental impact and lower energy bills, with features including air source heat pumps, solar PV panels and EV charging points. Each home has an A-rated energy performance certificate (EPC).
The low-carbon homes were also built using a ‘fabric-first approach’, prioritising energy-efficient materials. The sustainable, prefabricated timber frames were manufactured in the UK and erected on site. The construction method enabled airtight insulation, while ultra-low U-value windows and doors ensure maximum thermal efficiency – meaning the new homes are well insulated and economical to keep warm.
Cllr Ian Courts, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Managed Growth at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, says: ‘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, adds: ‘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.’
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