Key Points
- Levitt Bernstein has designed Melfield Gardens, a pioneering intergenerational housing development in Lewisham, south London, accommodating ‘downsizing’ older people alongside postgraduate students from Goldsmiths, University of London.
- The project comprises two buildings providing 30 independent homes for residents aged over 55 and student accommodation.
- In 2007, the London Borough of Lewisham transferred approximately 6,400 homes to Phoenix Community Housing through a large-scale voluntary transfer scheme; the association now owns and manages more than 7,600 homes in the borough, mainly in the wards of Bellingham, Catford South, Downham, and Grove Park.
- Melfield Gardens is the latest project for Phoenix Community Housing, located within walking distance of Hazelhurst Court, another scheme designed by Levitt Bernstein.
- Phoenix identified a shortage of specialist housing for older people in Lewisham, exacerbated by growing populations aged 65 and over in outer London boroughs.
- The housing shortage for the elderly also impacts young families, as older residents’ reluctance to downsize limits availability of larger family homes, contributing to overcrowded housing and temporary accommodation.
- The site previously contained 16 substandard bedsits, which negatively affected the surrounding area as a thoroughfare to Beckenham Hill railway station.
- Levitt Bernstein’s design retains connectivity to the station while integrating planting, seating areas for socialising, and a well-defined pedestrian route overlooked for safety.
- The project promotes ‘good neighbourliness’ through communal spaces like a south-facing garden room with kitchen, bathroom, and private garden access, evidenced by fairy lights from a Christmas gathering.
- Phoenix Community Housing developed a Good Neighbour Agreement with Goldsmiths, University of London, where undergraduate students commit a small number of hours monthly to support older residents in exchange for reduced rent.
- Around 2018, Phoenix’s chief executive pushed to remove gas from developments; Steve Connor, development manager, advocated Passivhaus standards to reduce gas dependency without high electricity bills, drawing on his Passivhaus training.
- Tom Randle, associate director at Levitt Bernstein, highlighted the benefit of their prior area knowledge from repeated collaborations with Phoenix.
- One student resident is a DJ, illustrating the communal activities encouraged by the scheme.
- The project demonstrates a strong client-architect relationship built over multiple projects and Phoenix’s commitment to the community.
Lewisham, south London (South London News) January 28, 2026 – Levitt Bernstein has unveiled Melfield Gardens, an innovative intergenerational housing development in Lewisham that houses older residents downsizing alongside postgraduate students from Goldsmiths, University of London, addressing critical shortages in specialist elderly accommodation while fostering community ties.
The scheme, delivered in partnership with Phoenix Community Housing, features two buildings offering 30 independent homes for those over 55 and dedicated student accommodation, marking a significant step in tackling housing challenges for both young and old in outer London. This project builds on a 2007 large-scale voluntary transfer when the London Borough of Lewisham handed over approximately 6,400 homes to Phoenix, which has since grown its portfolio to over 7,600 homes across wards including Bellingham, Catford South, Downham, and Grove Park.
What is Melfield Gardens and Who Developed It?
Melfield Gardens represents a model of flexible living, blending independent living for older adults with student housing to promote intergenerational exchange. Designed by Levitt Bernstein, the project exemplifies a longstanding client-architect collaboration, as it stands within walking distance of Hazelhurst Court, another Phoenix Community Housing development by the same firm.
Phoenix Community Housing’s commitment to the community underscores the initiative, stemming from their observation of a specialist housing shortage for older people upon acquiring the transferred stock in 2007. With populations aged 65 and over expanding in outer London boroughs, the urgency to address this gap has intensified.
As reported by Tom Randle, associate director at Levitt Bernstein,
“Working with us again brought Phoenix the added benefit of a detailed knowledge of the area.”
This familiarity informed the redesign of a site that previously housed 16 substandard bedsits, whose poor condition had blighted the neighbourhood by serving as an unsightly thoroughfare to Beckenham Hill railway station.
Why Was This Intergenerational Approach Chosen?
The intergenerational model at Melfield Gardens directly confronts dual housing crises: insufficient options for elderly downsizers and strained family housing availability. By encouraging older residents to move into tailored independent homes, larger properties become available for families, mitigating overcrowding and reliance on temporary accommodation.
This ‘good neighbourliness’ permeates the design, with features like carefully considered planting integrated with seating areas to encourage resident interactions and socialising. A well-defined pedestrian access route maintains connectivity to neighbouring areas and the railway station while ensuring public spaces are overlooked for enhanced safety.
How Does the Design Promote Community?
On a site visit described in crisp mid-December conditions, the project’s communal spirit was evident, with fairy lights from a recent Christmas gathering adorning the south-facing garden communal room. This multifunctional space includes a kitchen, bathroom, and direct access to a private garden, facilitating shared activities.
As noted by Steve Connor, the development manager at Phoenix Community Housing, “One of the student residents is a DJ,” highlighting the vibrant communality the association seeks to nurture. Such interactions exemplify the scheme’s ethos, where younger and older residents enrich each other’s lives.
What is the Good Neighbour Agreement?
To underpin the intergenerational success, Phoenix Community Housing forged a Good Neighbour Agreement with Goldsmiths, University of London. Undergraduate students commit a small number of hours each month to provide support and company to older residents, earning reduced rent in return.
This structured exchange ensures mutual benefits, with students gaining affordable housing near their studies and older residents receiving companionship, all while reinforcing community bonds in Lewisham.
How Does Passivhaus Design Feature in the Project?
Sustainability forms a cornerstone of Melfield Gardens, aligning with Phoenix’s forward-thinking policies. Around 2018, the association’s chief executive prioritised removing gas from new developments, prompting a shift towards low-energy solutions.
Steve Connor, leveraging his training as a Passivhaus designer and assessor, championed Passivhaus standards, stating,
“Given my training as a Passivhaus designer and assessor, I felt designing to Passivhaus standards was the best approach to reducing gas dependency without leaving residents with high electricity bills.”
This approach delivers energy-efficient homes that maintain affordability for residents.
What is the Historical Context of Phoenix Community Housing in Lewisham?
Phoenix Community Housing’s journey began with the 2007 transfer of 6,400 homes from the London Borough of Lewisham, a large-scale voluntary transfer scheme that expanded their role in the borough. Today, they manage over 7,600 homes, concentrating in key wards: Bellingham, Catford South, Downham, and Grove Park.
Both Melfield Gardens and nearby Hazelhurst Court illustrate Phoenix’s dedication to resident needs, evolving from stock management to innovative housing solutions.
How Does Melfield Gardens Benefit the Wider Neighbourhood?
Beyond resident-focused design, the project enhances the local area by replacing substandard bedsits with safe, inviting public realms. Retained pedestrian links to Beckenham Hill station, combined with overlooked pathways and social seating, foster a safer, more connected neighbourhood.
Levitt Bernstein’s nuanced landscaping integrates planting to create welcoming spaces, countering the site’s former negative impact.
Who Are the Key Figures Involved?
Tom Randle, associate director at Levitt Bernstein, emphasised the advantages of their repeated partnership with Phoenix, rooted in deep local insight. Steve Connor, Phoenix’s development manager, has been instrumental in steering the project’s sustainability and communal aspects, from Passivhaus advocacy to on-site observations of resident life.
Phoenix Community Housing’s chief executive drove the gas-free directive around 2018, shaping the environmental strategy.
What Challenges Did the Project Address?
The initiative tackles pressing demographic shifts, with outer London boroughs facing rising elderly populations and consequent housing ripple effects. By prioritising downsizing options, it alleviates pressure on family-sized homes, a persistent issue in areas like Lewisham.
The transformation of a dilapidated site into a community asset further demonstrates proactive urban renewal.
