Forest Mews wins property gong

The winners of the "Oscars of the London property market" have been announced. No, not the Stirling Prize. Not The Sunday Times, AJ or Evening Standard awards either. The RICS Awards 2015!

Anyway, it's a reputable prize and a Forest Hill development collected residential building of the year 2015 at the ceremony last night.

Forest Mews (off Rockbourne Mews) is a beauty, comprising three homes and studios set around a central courtyard and designed by Jessica and Robert Barker. The other winners included Heathrow Terminal 2 and the British Museum's new exhibition centre.

The judges said: "A brownfield site set behind Victorian houses and a parade of shops has been redeveloped into a small communal mews. A private drive leads to a triangular area that previously contained a converted lock-up, derelict store and textile print studio.

"The site was landlocked and overlooked by a patchwork of properties. Each of the three new houses is provided with a workspace, creating a live-work community within the mews, and the buildings are set around a shared central courtyard. The carefully considered design enables light into the houses and maintains privacy, while a sensitive approach was required to manage no less than 32 Party Wall Awards and to achieve a contextual solution."