The scheme is the fruit of John Prescott's initiative to promote off-side construction of housing. English Partnerships held competitions for the design and construction of prefabricated houses meeting demanding environmental standards.

Full height insulated wall panels were erected first, followed by floors and roofs. The pods on the roofs contain solar heaters and heat exchangers for the background ventilation system.

The project represents a thorough-going attempt at innovation within the all-too risk-averse conventional housebuilders' market. It achieves well- designed and spacious-seeming housing with excellent daylight. It points to one way forward in achieving high environmental standards in quality housebuilding. The scheme is therefore well deserving of an award for its through-going spirit of innovation and the élan of its design.