Bella Mews, North East London
2 new homes on a redundant garage site
Status - Built

Bella Mews is an award winning new-build housing scheme within a sensitive London conservation area. It has transformed a redundant brownfield garage site into two high-quality, dual-aspect homes: a three-bedroom ground-floor dwelling and a one-bedroom first-floor unit.

Our client approached us following unsuccessful planning applications for a single bungalow, by others. Instead we gained permission for two new homes for our client, maximising the development potential of the site.

The building is conceived as a sculpted pale red brick form, shaped by site constraints through deep setbacks, undercuts, and pronounced window reveals that create strong relief. Carefully detailed brickwork varies across each elevation, responding to the site’s specific conditions and producing a robust yet characterful appearance.

Deep inset openings define entrances, while brick bonds on the front elevation articulate the external stair to the upper dwelling -an architectural feature inspired by traditional mews housing, reinterpreted in a contemporary way. Integrated planters provide defensible greenery and soften the street edge, while secure cycle storage supports the car-free scheme.

Interiors are bright and spacious, with generous front and rear openings enabling long views without overlooking. Exposed ceiling joists enhance head height and create an open, uplifting atmosphere.

Photography by Marcus Peel

Awards

Bella Mews has been recognised with the following awards and nominations:

2025 / Surface Design Award for Housing – Winner

2025 / British Homes Awards Development of the Year (up to 20 homes) - Shortlisted

2025 / London Construction Awards Residential Project of the Year - Finalist

Publications

The project has been published in The Architect’s Journal and Building Design

Project Team

Architects / Novak Hiles Architects
Client / Private Developer
Planning Consultant / Wildstone Planning
Main Contractor / TMP Build Solutions
Structural & Civil Engineer / GCA
Sustainability & Energy Consultant / Pro Sustainability
MEP Contractor / Aspire