Regenerating a 1960s estate for the London Borough of Camden, Agar Grove is the largest Passivhaus development in the UK. The latest phase is designed by Hawkins\Brown and Mae.

Built in the mid-1960s, Agar Grove has long been a popular place to live, but its layout was outdated and disconnected. The masterplan delivers 496 new homes in Camden, including affordable council housing, temporary accommodation, refugee housing, and private sale units to fund the scheme. So far, 220 homes have been completed, and Phase 1c delivered 125 units in 2024.

The redevelopment addresses overcrowding and increases affordable housing floorspace by 95%. Energy performance is a priority, with 100% of new homes and 70% overall built to Passivhaus standards using a ‘fabric first’ approach—making it the UK’s largest Passivhaus development.

Homes feature active frontages, double-height communal entrances, and naturally lit stairwells. Bedrooms face courtyards or are placed on upper floors. Learning lessons from the previous phases, the thermal envelope building has been simplified, reducing the area exposed to the elements. Recessed balconies are glazed to form ‘solariums’, and large triple-glazed windows enhance comfort.

Ground-floor flats and maisonettes have private gardens, and some units have roof terraces. Communal gardens, play areas, and growing spaces are secure and wildlife-friendly. High-quality brick and GRC facades complement Camden’s character.

Pedestrian navigation is improved with connected routes, softened highway impacts, and landscaped buffers. The design, shaped by resident consultation, follows a ‘streets and squares’ concept with street-level entrances and liveable spaces.

The development is tenure-blind, ensuring equal quality across housing types. Heating systems evolved through post-occupancy evaluations: communal MVHR in Phase 1a, individual units in 1b, and ambient loop heat pumps in 1c.

“Camden and Hawkins\Brown worked as a team collaborating with the residents who eventually moved into the completed buildings to ensure that their vision and aspirations for a new home were met. The completed blocks include flats and maisonettes utilising a number of layouts to meet the differing views from residents in how they wanted to live and use their new homes. Hawkins\Brown helped Camden to achieve this through constructive collaboration with the wider design team and appropriate compromise where needed.”

- Michelle Christensen, Senior Development Manager, London Borough of Camden