The Oxley Woods site in Milton Keynes is just over three hectares in size. The aim was to build high-quality homes to a number of different quality standards including

‘Ecohomes’ and ‘Building for Life’.

The site will accommodate 145 properties, providing a mixture of affordable housing and larger private dwellings in two and three-storey houses.

Emphasis is placed on the potential of the design to respond to changes in lifestyles and family sizes of the occupants.

Oxley Woods is the fruit of John Prescott's initiative to promote off-side construction of housing.

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.

Tour leaders: Paul Thompson and Andy Partridge of Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners