Innovation in the spotlight as William Sutton Prize winners announced
Clarion Housing Group has revealed the winners of the sixth William Sutton Prize at an event sponsored by The Wiggett Group.
From transforming agricultural waste into insulation panels, and adaptive heating systems to support decarbonisation, to an AI-powered digital “super-neighbour” to bring communities together, the winners have been selected for their potential to advance social good in affordable housing.
Named after the Victorian philanthropist whose legacy created Clarion Housing Group 125 years ago, The William Sutton Prize aims to honour that legacy by turning groundbreaking concepts into real-world solutions that make lasting improvements to the built environment and local communities.
The William Sutton Prize for Sustainability
Three winners have been selected for The William Sutton Prize for Sustainability, as follows:
AdaptiveHeat
AdaptiveHeat by Eyesea Green Limited tackles the challenge of decarbonising heating in heritage and hard-to-retrofit homes, where conventional methods fall short.
Using a mix of low-temperature air source heat pumps, infrared ceiling panels, and an AI-powered control system, it heats only occupied spaces in real time, cutting energy use by over 40% while improving comfort.
Tashiv Ramsander, Director of Eyesea Green Limited, said:
“Winning The William Sutton Prize recognises the crosspollination of ideas between sectors from jet engines to homes, and my hope is that it will help bring energy efficient innovation into the built environment for the benefit of humanity.”
ReHarvest Board
ReHarvest Board by AgriCycle Innovation Ltd converts agricultural waste into lightweight insulation panels with up to 80% less embodied carbon than traditional materials.
Made using low-energy, non-toxic methods, it diverts waste from landfill, cuts emissions, and lowers building energy use, supporting sustainable, affordable homes.
Dr Xiaobin Zhao, Founder, Director and CEO of AgriCycle Innovation Ltd, said:
“As a material innovator, winning The William Sutton Prize is a powerful validation of my mission to turn agricultural waste into sustainable, low-carbon building materials. It will give me the momentum and support to scale this work from lab to lived-in homes, helping Clarion deliver healthier, greener housing. More importantly, my hope is that it will inspire others who believe in science-based, circular solutions to join this movement and reimagine waste as a resource for good.”
Retrofit Automation Tool
Retrofit Automation Tool by Bioregional aims to accelerate retrofit planning by turning complex, messy datasets into clear decarbonisation pathways based on real-world performance.
Using geographic property data and smart meter insights, it delivers in weeks what normally takes 6-12 months, helping housing associations act faster, cut carbon, and improve both domestic and non-domestic properties.
Lewis Knight, Director at Bioregional, said:
“At the heart of Bioregional’s work is the urgent mission to enable sustainable living. We’ve seen first-hand how housing associations and asset owners struggle with the complexity and delays of planning large-scale retrofits. Our tool is designed to cut through these barriers, unlocking a clear and confident path to impactful implementation, and we hope that winning The William Sutton Prize will help accelerate our progress.”
The William Sutton Prize for Connected Communities
Neya AI Super-Neighbour for Connected Thriving Neighbourhoods
Neya AI Super-Neighbour for Connected Thriving Neighbourhoods by NeighbourlyLab and Neya is an AI-powered “super-neighbour” that connects residents, answers questions, and links them to local events, services, and each other.
Rob Chapman, CEO of Neya, said:
"Winning The William Sutton Prize is a powerful moment of validation, not just for our work, but for the belief that communities thrive when people are better connected to each other. The communities we serve are asking for something quieter, kinder, and more constructive than today’s social media platforms. They want a way to belong, to contribute, and to feel connected. Our hope is that this Prize will give us the support and visibility we need to grow Neya responsibly, reach more people, and ensure that our technology is rooted in community need. It also tells the communities we’re working with that their needs matter. That means the world to us.”
Sustainable London
Sustainable London by Motivez is a programme that empowers under-represented young social housing residents aged 14-16 to become environmental innovators and future STEM leaders.
Treasure Oyelade, Director and Head of Operations at Motivez, said:
“My hope is that winning The William Sutton Prize will be a catalyst for Motivez to expand beyond London, scaling sustainable youth-led solutions across England through Clarion’s reach – something we’ve dreamed of, but haven’t yet had the means to achieve.”
In addition to funding, the winners also receive a tailored package of business support and the chance to collaborate with Clarion and sector-leading experts to turn their bright ideas into reality.
William Sutton Prize scholarship programme
As part of Clarion’s 125th anniversary celebrations, this year has seen the launch of a new William Sutton Prize scholarship programme. Delivered in partnership with the London Neighbourhood Scholarship Trust and financial education specialists Blackbullion, and with one of the scholarships sponsored by architecture practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), the initiative aims to increase diversity in architecture and sustainability, providing funding to support students from low-income households and social housing backgrounds through their degree courses.
Six young people have been selected to be the beneficiaries of these scholarships, of which four are social housing residents. They will study at institutions including the University of Oxford, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at UCL, and Ravensbourne University London, and will also benefit from access to mentoring, work placements and tailored employability support.
“From an AI-powered ‘super-neighbour’ to insulation panels made of agricultural waste, this year’s winners have the potential to make a real difference, helping to foster truly connected communities and find innovative ways to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.
“Our judging panel had a tough time narrowing a record-breaking number of applications down to five very worthy winners across our two categories, and we’re excited to work with them to open doors and accelerate progress.
“I’d also like to congratulate our first cohort of William Sutton Prize scholars who we hope will become the next generation of changemakers. I can’t wait to see where their journeys take them with our support.”
Clare Miller, Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group
The trophies awarded to winners and scholars have been created by British potter and ceramic designer and star of Channel 4’s ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’, Keith Brymer Jones.
Brymer Jones handcrafted the exclusive trophies, each of which is unique, in his new studio at Capel Salem in Pwllheli, Wales, which features in ‘Our Welsh Chapel Dream’.