Sometimes the past quietly reminds you why a place feels the way it does. During a recent visit to Burnwood Court in Smallthorne, a framed certificate displayed in one of the communal corridors caught the eye.
It was a Good Design Award, presented by the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1990–91. The award recognised Burnwood Court as the best new-build development in the city at the time and was presented to Staffordshire Housing Association, as Staffs Housing was then known. Signed by the Lord Mayor at the time, Alan Jones, it marked a moment when new homes were being built with a clear purpose.
That purpose, to provide good-quality, affordable homes that people can feel proud of, is one that still sits at the heart of Staffs Housing today, and Burnwood Court is a reminder that this has long been part of our approach.
The certificate prompted conversations with residents about what stood here before and what Burnwood Court meant when it was first built. For Ken, who has lived at Burnwood Court for many years, the change was significant.
“Before Burnwood Court was built, it used to be really old Victorian terraced houses,” Ken recalls. “They all had their toilets outside and were very dilapidated and run down.”
“At the time, Stoke-on-Trent was changing. Older housing stock was being reviewed and cleared, making way for purpose-built homes and apartments designed to raise living standards and support regeneration across the city.”
Ken remembers that Burnwood Court was designed differently, with everyday life in mind.
“It’s along the main road, but the homes are set back and staggered, so you don’t get much traffic noise. There’s plenty of parking, open communal corridors, which were unusual at the time, and gardens where residents can actually enjoy the space.”
Those early design choices still shape how Burnwood Court feels today. The building was created to be practical, comfortable and affordable, homes that work for the people living in them. Years on, the layout, shared spaces and overall feel continue to support a calm, settled place to live.
(Pictured: Good Design Award awarded to Staffordshire Housing Association)
Having lived there for some time, Ken sees that connection clearly.
“It showed that whoever designed the building at the time thought about the people who were going to be living here,” he says. “And that makes all the difference.”
Burnwood Court stands as a link between past and present, proof that purpose-built, well-designed homes can stand the test of time, and that creating places people feel proud to call home has always been part of our story.
Want to find out more about living in a Staffs Housing home? Visit www.staffshousing.org.uk/rent
