The Greenhouse

The first was the renovation of the iconic row of Salford terraced-houses that are featured in the starting sequence of Coronation Street. Threatened with demolition, they've now been converted into bijou residences that will attract the next generation of chic, young Mancunians (if that's not an oxymoron) while baffling Vera Duckworth. Considerably more attractive than Corrie, I'd say, though if they last as long they'll definitely be doing their bit for sustainability.

At the same time, Richard Simmons, head of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, has demonstrated the breadth of his remit by insisting that well designed housing, and housing estates, can help reduce anti-social behaviour, can reduce CO2 consumption and car-reliance and improve food and fuel poverty. That's if we don't have another decade in which around 1/3rd of houses 'should never have been given planning permission'. His words, not mine.