cecil noris house

Located in the heart of Shoreham, Cecil Norris House marks a significant milestone—the first council-built housing scheme in Adur for over 30 years. Replacing a 1970s retirement block, the new development provides a carefully considered and sustainable response to pressing local housing needs, embodying a renewed sense of civic ambition.

Commissioned by Adur District Council and delivered through Adur Homes, the scheme delivers 15 homes: five one-bedroom flats, eight two-bedroom flats, and two two-storey maisonettes. Designed by members of the practice with expertise across design, planning, technical delivery, and interior design—and constructed by Pilbeam Construction—the timber-frame building is clad in a robust mix of brick and brick veneer. Full-height porches and private balconies contribute to a confident, contemporary streetscape within a quiet residential setting.

Design features include a distinctive façade articulation that encodes the words “Cecil Norris House” into the window arrangement, using a binary code expressed through alternating spandrels and clear glazed openings. In addition, the brickwork transitions across the elevations—shifting from a deeper tone on the street-facing south, east, and west façades to a brighter white brick facing the internal courtyard—enhancing daylight levels to the private amenity spaces and reinforcing a sense of spatial hierarchy.

Sustainability sits at the heart of the scheme.

The carbon-sequestering timber superstructure is wrapped in a high-performance thermal envelope. Solar panels, green roofs, and secure cycle storage support low-carbon lifestyles, while integrated smart-home technologies promote maintenance efficiency and resident wellbeing.

Internally, layouts are designed to maximise natural light, spatial clarity, and long-term adaptability. The massing and architectural language are deliberately modest yet well-resolved, referencing the local context while raising the bar for design quality. This simple but purposeful expression reflects a step-change in the delivery of affordable housing across the district.

Cecil Norris House exemplifies the practice’s commitment to working with local authorities to deliver low-energy, high-quality homes on constrained urban sites. It stands as a model for how council housing can be socially impactful, environmentally responsible, and architecturally ambitious—setting a new benchmark for regeneration in Adur.