Launched in 2019 by The Developer in partnership with Design Council, The Pineapples awards are unique in seeking to celebrate great places. ‘It’s about taking a pro-social and pro-environmental approach to property development’ says co-founder of The Pineapples, Christine Murray.
This year saw the launch of a new Healthy Homes category in association with the TCPA and sponsored by Wates Group. The Pineapple for Healthy Homes recognises recently completed housing schemes that promote the health of residents and citizens and is judged according to the TCPA’s 12 Healthy Homes Principles.
Two projects were lucky enough to scoop the award, impressing the judging panel of Magali Thomson (Project Lead for Placemaking, Great Ormond Street Hospital), Dr Rosalie Callway (Policy and Project Manager, TCPA) and Daniel Black (Programme Director, TRUUD). The winners were announced at the prizegiving event in London on 2 April. Read on to see what the judges had to say about the two winning schemes.
Winner: Hazelmead, Bridport for Bridport Cohousing CLT with Barefoot Architects
Hazelmead impressed the judges as a trailblazing example of large-scale cohousing, demonstrating determination and community-led ambition at an unprecedented scale.
The scheme successfully balances privacy and sociability, with safe communal streets, shared green spaces, and common facilities that foster a strong sense of neighbourhood.
The project’s design actively supports a different era of living, where play, trust, and connection flourish—evidenced by children safely roaming and bikes left unlocked.
The project’s commitment to affordability in perpetuity, achieved through crowdfunding and a community land trust model, ensures that Hazelmead remains a sustainable, long-term asset for residents.
Its microgrid energy system and passive design features offer not just sustainability but also thermal comfort and resilience, setting a strong precedent for future developments.
The judges felt that Hazelmead’s approach to collaborative living, environmental sustainability, and long-term affordability is a model to learn from going forward.
Winner: Appleby Blue Almshouse, London Borough of Southwark for United St. Saviour’s Charity with Witherford Watson Mann
The judges were impressed by Appleby Blue Almshouse’s holistic approach to later living, which puts older residents at the heart of the community rather than at the margins.
The scheme is designed with thoughtful openness, offering residents a choice in their level of social engagement—from watching the world go by through street-facing sight lines to actively participating in communal activities.
The project champions food, gardening, and shared spaces as key conduits for social connection, creating opportunities for meaningful interactions.
The development stands out for its replicability, demonstrating how urban housing for older people can be designed to support independence, wellbeing, and financial security.
By incorporating natural materials, accessible layouts, and embedded health and financial wellbeing support, it sets a new standard for inclusive, people-centred later living.
The judges praised the scheme’s ability to listen deeply to residents and create a place where growing older is aspirational, active, and joyful.
Congratulations to the shortlisted projects:
The Bourne, Hook Norton for Hook Norton Community Land Trust Project and Greencore Homes with Charlie Luxton Design
Cannock Mill Cohousing, Colchester for Cannock Mill Cohousing Colchester Ltd with Anne Thorne Architects LLP and Studio Suetake (Millers House)
Agar Grove, London Borough of Camden for The London Borough of Camden and The Residents of the Agar Grove Estate with Hawkins\Brown and Mae
Greenhaus, Salford for ECF and Salix Homes with Buttress Architects
