Worthing’s newest council housing development has won a major award for its innovative and environmentally friendly design.
Eleven energy-efficient homes at Tempest Court in Victoria Road have been built for Worthing Borough Council on the former site of an RAF Air Cadets prefab building.
Local residents in need of accommodation have now moved into the flats, which were constructed to Passivhaus standards. Their high levels of insulation, ventilation and energy efficiency mean very little power is needed to heat or cool them, helping tenants benefit from significantly lower fuel bills.
The development won the Large Scale Residential category at the Sussex Heritage Awards and was also Highly Commended in the Best Eco Project category.
Judges praised the care taken to ensure the ECE Architecture-designed building fitted into the surrounding conservation area. Features include bay windows, decorative brickwork and the retention of a historic flint boundary wall.
Explaining their decision, the judges said: “Through ‘no-dig’ construction around protected trees and a commitment to all-electric systems, Victoria Road proves that climate-resilient architecture can be both technically rigorous and profoundly generous, offering residents a calm, robust, and permanent sanctuary at their moment of greatest need.”
The development, built by West Sussex-based Sunninghill Construction, has also received a Site Recognition Award from national insurer LABC Warranty for the quality of its workmanship and site management.
Completed on time and on budget in January 2026, the homes were designed to bring Worthing families previously placed outside the borough closer to relatives, jobs and schools.
Councillor Sophie Cox, Worthing’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Our Victoria Road homes are a wonderful example of how new homes can be highly-sustainable, beautiful and affordable to live in, all at the same time.
“They have helped us to bring Worthing residents back to their town - part of our commitment as a council for the community to do everything we can to tackle the housing crisis gripping our area.”
Around 2,500 households remain on Worthing’s housing register. The council estimates bringing tenants back into the town will save tens of thousands of pounds each year in temporary accommodation costs.
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