Stepping Stones shortlisted for Inside Housing Development Awards
Stepping Stones, a pioneering move-on home in Waltham Forest, has been shortlisted for two Inside Housing Development Awards: Best Supported Housing Development – Urban and Best Healthy Homes Development – Urban.
Commissioned by Waltham Forest Churches Night Shelter (WFCNS), the six-bed House in Multiple Occupation supports adults moving on from hostel accommodation, bridging the gap between homelessness and full independence. Residents are offered 6–12 months of affordable, stable housing alongside tailored support, helping them to build confidence, financial security, and long-term resilience.
The Inside Housing Development Awards recognise schemes that go beyond bricks and mortar, rewarding innovation in design, sustainability, and resident wellbeing. The Supported Housing category celebrates projects that provide safe, appropriate accommodation for vulnerable groups, while Healthy Homes highlights developments that actively enhance physical and mental health.
Stepping Stones reimagines a rundown Victorian house into an energy-efficient, dignified, and supportive home. The retrofit, guided by Passivhaus principles, reduced heating demand by 87% while retaining the building’s heritage features. Careful design introduced ensuite rooms, acoustic separation, communal and private support spaces, plus measures to reduce conflict such as individual fridges.
With its innovative low-energy retrofit and resident-focused design, Stepping Stones offers a replicable model for local authorities and charities addressing homelessness.
