The Davidson Prize

The government’s target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2030 demands a multi-pronged approach, bold policy changes, and a rethinking of urban housing.

New towns take 15–20 years to develop due to infrastructure demands—far too slow to meet urgent housing needs. Meanwhile, constructing 1.5 million homes using current mass housebuilding methods would generate 75 million tonnes of CO₂e—equivalent to planting 2 million hectares of forest (the size of Wales) and waiting 50 years for absorption.

To accelerate delivery and reduce carbon impact, we propose unlocking 127 million sq ft of underused commercial space in city centres nationwide, converting it into high-quality homes and communities. Expanding Permitted Development rights would create 200,000+ affordable homes—three times faster than traditional new builds, with a 50–75% lower carbon footprint.

Our multidisciplinary team of architects, developers, planners, engineers, and landscape architects proposes an enhanced Permitted Development framework, Permitted Development + introducing pre-approved interventions to improve placemaking, sustainability, and housing quality.

The new policy would include wide ranging public benefits, including allowing partial demolition at ground floor to create new public routes and permeability at ground level, as well as extensions to the façade to provide external amenity spaces, to name a few.

A flexible, offsite manufactured ‘kit of parts’ could create jobs, support circular economy principles, and allow buildings to evolve with communities. This model enables the rapid transformation of existing structures into vibrant, sustainable homes while ensuring adaptability for the future.

By codifying these interventions, we can cut planning delays, revitalise cities, and deliver dignified, sustainable homes at speed and scale

Morris+Company
Hugh Queenan, Associate Director Residential Studio,
David Storring, Director + Head of Sustainability and Innovation
Tania Marques, Associate Director
Elena Lledo, Associate Director
Lilly Thomas, Model Workshop Manager
Karen Kwok, Part I Architectural Assistant
Anna Robinson, Head of Communications
Joe Morris, CEO + Head of Architecture

Hub Living
Brad Burridge, Development Director - Construction
Kate Brown, Head of Strategic Communications

Stantec / Hydrock
David Hutt, Regional Director – South East

DP9
James Armitage Director

Stantec
Susan Kvalheim, Director of Structural Engineering

Studio Knight Stokoe
Martin Knight, Co-Founding Director

George Cudby, Graphic Designer