Award win for Cookley Works recognises excellence in affordable housing
We are celebrating after Cookley Works in the West Midlands was named Best Affordable Housing Development 2025 at the prestigious Inside Housing Development Awards.
The award recognises a transformative project that turned a derelict five acre brownfield site in Brierley Hill, Dudley, into a thriving new community of 71 high quality, 100 per cent affordable homes, built to meet local demand.
Delivered in partnership with Lovell Partnerships, West Midlands Combined Authority and Homes England, Cookley Works includes 37 homes for affordable rent and 34 for shared ownership, giving families and individuals across the West Midlands a real opportunity to put down roots in a secure and aspirational home.
Elizabeth Froude, our Group Chief Executive said: “We’re very proud of what has been achieved at Cookley Works and delighted for the people that now call it home. It’s a testament to the strength of our partnerships and shared commitment to delivering high quality affordable homes. Working together with Lovell and the West Midlands Combined Authority, we’ve converted derelict, brownfield land and created a place that meets real community needs, which is exactly the kind of impact we plan to keep delivering at scale.”
From the outset, the vision for Cookley Works was clear, to prove that affordability and aspiration can coexist. The development is tenure blind, with thoughtfully designed features including glass balconies, tree lined streets and landscaped green spaces, creating a neighbourhood that residents are proud to call home.
Bringing the long vacant and contaminated industrial site back into use posed significant challenges. But through close collaboration and determination, the partners delivered a scheme that not only met urgent housing need but did so with a focus on quality, sustainability and placemaking.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I visited Cookley Works last year and families told me how they had previously been paying sky high rents for private properties riddled with damp and mould. If people want to understand how good quality, affordable housing has the power to transform lives then go and see this development - it’s a worthy winner.
“I’m using my funding to deliver more social and affordable homes like these because the current shortage is blighting too many lives by leaving families in poor quality or temporary accommodation.
“This a shared goal, and it’s by bringing together public sector funding, housing associations like Platform, and responsible developers, that we can begin fixing this housing crisis and improve the quality of life for thousands of children and their parents.”
Throughout construction, rigorous checks carried out by our in house Quality Team, resulted in a defect rate far below the industry average, underlining the commitment to excellence. The site’s heritage has also been honoured with a commemorative statue, connecting the new community to its steelworking past.
Stuart Penn, Regional Managing Director at Lovell, said: “Having this recognition for Cookley Works is fantastic but the real achievement is having delivered essential affordable housing in the region, which doesn’t compromise on quality. Unlocking the brownfield land at the former steel works site was not without its challenges, but through close collaboration and long-standing partnerships we’ve created a space for people to call home.
“We’re looking forward to continuing this successful partnership at other sites across the region.”
Cookley Works now stands as a blueprint for brownfield regeneration and a proud example of our mission to create communities where people can thrive.
Photo caption : Platform Housing Group’s Cookley Works has been recognised in a top industry award