Strawberry Fields Retirement Village, nominated by Carter Jonas, was commended in the Best Homes and Communities Scheme for its exemplary approach to delivering a 147-home integrated retirement community alongside a 21-hectare publicly accessible countryside park.

Responding to a clear need for specialist older persons accommodation, the masterplan creates a safe, sociable and inclusive environment supported by mobility-friendly routes, central health and wellbeing facilities and landscape-led placemaking. The scheme delivers outstanding environmental value, including an exceptional +289% biodiversity net gain, extensive chalk grassland restoration and long-term stewardship through partnership with the Magog Trust.

With energy-efficient design achieving around 50% carbon emission reduction, well-integrated SuDS, green and blue infrastructure and strong active travel connections, the project sets a new benchmark for sustainable, health-focused Green Belt development. Judges praised its high design quality, clarity of layout, strong sense of place and early signs of a thriving community, recognising it as a thoughtfully delivered scheme with significant long-term social and environmental benefits.