Study Tour: Sutton Estate

Tour

Wednesday 28 October 2026
08:30 - 10:00

Join this study tour of the retrofit of Chelsea’s 100-year-old Sutton Estate, one of the country’s oldest purpose-built social housing estates.

Delivered by a collaboration of Civic, HTA and Durkan for Clarion Housing Group and completed in 2024, the project has refurbished four historic residential blocks to deliver 81 high-quality, social-rented homes that offer improved accessibility, wellbeing and comfort and more sustainable living in the capital.

The tour will explore how the design team’s sustainable urban drainage strategy, central community garden and landscaped areas have improved climate resilience, accessibility and social connection.

Tour leads Rhys Williams, associate director at Civic, and Caroline Dove, partner at HTA Design, will share the story of community engagement, design and delivery behind the award-winning example of urban regeneration and estate renewal. They’ll share the approaches that are readily transferable to other housing estates, particularly those facing combined challenges of ageing housing stock, climate resilience and the need to improve health and wellbeing.

Please note the capacity for this event is very limited and therefore tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis, with a maximum of 2 per organisation.

08:30 Arrivals for registration and breakfast

09:00 Welcome

Lucy Millichamp, Head of Place, NLA

Rhys Williams, Associate Director, Civic

Caroline Dove, Partner, HTA Design

09:10 Tour begins

10:00 End