Building with Nature named winners of Clarion's William Sutton Prize

Building with Nature Director, Dr Gemma Jerome, celebrating with The Green Partnership Managing Director Sam Jones after winning the fifth William Sutton Prize, awarded by Clarion Housing Group.

Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest provider of affordable housing, revealed Building with Nature as one of the winners of the fifth William Sutton Prize at an awards ceremony which took place on 23rd November 2023.

From a shortlist of six proposals, the prize was awarded for Building with Nature’s concept for a Green Infrastructure Stewardship Framework and Accreditation System. The framework proposes clear standards and guidance to better deliver the environmental, social, and economic benefits from the introduction of biodiversity and green spaces across communities. Through this proposal, Building with Nature’s aim is to create a set of comprehensive and standardised practices which demonstrate ‘what good looks like’ when it comes to managing and maintaining communities for the benefit of people and nature into the long term.

As one of the winners, Building with Nature in collaboration with The Green Partnership, will receive a share of The William Sutton Prize fund to turn this idea into reality. The funding is provided by Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group.

On winning the Prize Dr Gemma Jerome, Director of Building with Nature, said:

“Winning The William Sutton Prize is a huge honour and it means everything. Working with Clarion to bring this idea to life will make such a difference, helping to create green spaces where people can live and flourish for years to come.”  

Listen to Gemma explain the idea and driving force behind the concept for GI standards for stewardship:

In its fifth year, the William Sutton Prize shifted its focus to identify and recognise ideas that will help improve the carbon footprint of the social housing sector and accelerate the sector’s transition to net zero in a just and fair way.

The William Sutton Prize was developed by Clarion Housing Group to celebrate the legacy of its founder, William Sutton, as a 19th century innovator and philanthropist who bequeathed his fortune to improve the quality of social housing.