Sarah Wigglesworth Architects’ proposals for a mixed-use scheme of low-impact living, self-build homes, small businesses, open space and woodland on Soar Island was chosen from a shortlist of five.

SWA’s ideas stood out from the other entries because their proposal was diverse and rich, integrating heritage, landscape, ecology, and architecture together with a range of activities that could draw people to the site and create a strong identity for the riverside area as well as the island itself.

The four other shortlisted practices were London-based Ash Sakula, Gutiérrez-Delafuente Arquitectos of Spain, Kraft.Raum of Germany and London-based drummond.lawlor.

“We were delighted by the response to the competition, both by the range of ideas and the quality of thinking about how the site could transform this important part of the city,”

Glenn Howells, RIBA Adviser