The exhibition was the idea of Henry Aldridge, who was Secretary of the National Housing Reform Committee. He wanted to hold the exhibition on the outskirts of a great industrial city. Sheffield and Newcastle were the two choices. A Committee was set up to decide. It included W.H. Lever who had founded Port Sunlight, near Liverpool for workers in his soap factory, John TudorGlossary Term Walters the MP for Sheffield Brightside and the municipal reformer Thomas Nettlefold of Birmingham.

Prizes were to be awarded for different classes of housing. Class A had two bedrooms and a living room. Class B had three bedrooms and living room. Class C had three bedrooms, a living room and parlourGlossary Term.